Private William James Graham

William James Graham was born on 2 December 1896 at Altilevally, Raloo, County Antrim, the third of five children of labourer David Hugh Graham and his wife Mary Agnes (née Hanley). His father died when he was just eleven years old. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at nearby Ballyryland with his mother and one of his two surviving siblings.

Graham enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Larne on 17 January 1916, reporting for duty at Antrim nine days later (regimental number 2089). He gave his occupation as a boot and harness repairer and his address as Gleno, Larne. On his left forearm was a tattoo of a girl's head and 'Sarah True Love'.

In July that year he reported sick and was sent to hospital in Belfast, suffering from inflammation of his right middle-ear, a complaint he had suffered from since childhood. Following an assessment by the Belfast District Travelling Medical Board, on 25 September 1916 he was discharged, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations). His military character was recorded as 'fair. Sober and hardworking.'