Private William Alexander Graham
William Alexander Graham was born on 21 December 1892 at Dunwish, Omagh, County Tyrone, the first of four children of farmer Thomas Graham and his wife Mary (née Verner). His father died when he was just eight years old. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Dunwish with his mother and siblings and working on the family farm.
Graham enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 19 March and 2 April 1913 (No.811). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 20 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
In June 1916 C Squadron combined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps until September 1917, when the regiment was disbanded and its men transferred to the infantry. Like most, Graham was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – on 20 September, joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. He was issued regimental number 41295 and posted to C Company.
Graham was wounded in the right shoulder during the Battle of Cambrai in the fighting for the village of Moeuvres on 22 or 23 November 1917. He recovered, however, rejoining the battalion during 1918. He saw further action during the Advance to Victory offensive from August 1918, and was again wounded, this time in the right leg, probably during the fighting for Hill 41 near Dadizeele on 11 October. The battalion diary for the day reads:
Hill 41. At dawn a party of thirty O.R's under 2/ Lieut Darling M.C. formed up in Twig Farm. At 10.00 under cover of a barrage and smoke screen, they rushed Goldflake F[ar]m, capturing 14 prisoners, 3 M.G. & killing about 10 of the enemy. A position about 100 yards S.W of the farm was consolidated. The hostile barrage was extremely heavy ... Our casualties were 1 killed & 2 wounded. At about 17.50 the enemy counter attacked heavily on Goldflake, Mansard and Twig Fms. The garrison in Goldflake Fm withdrew after inflicting very heavy casualties on the enemy who were caught in fours on the road. The garrison of Mansard Fm was surrounded & fought their way back. The enemy succeeded in reaching Twig Fm but was held up by a small party which still held out in front of the farm. The enemy was finally cleared from Twig Fm by a counter attack. Mansard & Goldflake Fms remained in his hands. Lt Col P.E. Kelly was killed during the day by a shell. Our casualties during the day were 2 officers & 25 O.R's.
On 24 February 1919 Graham was discharged as 'surplus to military requirements, having suffered impairment since entry into the service' (paragraph 392 xvi(a), King's Regulations). He was granted a pension due to his wounds.
After his discharge Graham returned to farming at Dunwish. He died at the Tyrone County Hospital on 2 January 1965.