Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant J. H. T. Graham, 6th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers, killed in action, battle of the Somme, 4 July 1916

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., K.O. Sco. Bord.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); Memorial Plaque (John Hamilton Thom Graham) last with two letters ‘Thom[as]’ erased, generally nearly extremely fine except where stated (8) £500-600

John Hamilton Thom Graham was born on 22 October 1892, the son of the noted Scottish landscape painter, Peter Graham, R.A. John Graham was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and Oxford University, being a member of the O.T.C. at both institutions. As an undergraduate at Oxford he applied for a commission in the Infantry in August 1914. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers on 17 October 1914 and was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 10 July 1915. He entered France on 12 May 1915. Graham was wounded at the battle of Loos, 25 September 1915 - suffering a gunshot wound to the right thigh. After treatment at the 4th General Hospital, Versailles he was invalided to England and the Royal Free Hospital, London. He returned to France on 5 June 1916, rejoining his battalion on the 7th. Lieutenant Graham was killed in action on the Somme (Benafay Wood) on 4 July 1916, aged 23 years. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He was the son of Peter and Anne F. Graham, of ‘Westoun’, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland.

With Scottish Rifle Association Cadet Competition Medal, silver, hallmarks for London 1910, unnamed, in Elkington case of issue; Edinburgh Academy Prize Medal, 38mm., bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘Rifle Shooting Competition, Second Prize J. H. T. Graham 1911’; City of Edinburgh & Midlothian Rifle Association Prize Medal, 31mm., bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘Schools Trophy 1911’ in fitted case of issue by Brook & Son, Edinburgh; and Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs Cross, silver and enamel, unnamed.

Also with original Memorial Scroll and copied service papers, m.i.c. and other research including a copied photograph (recipient far left).