Private Willie Graham – 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

According to an entry in the 1911 census, a young Willie Graham was living at home in Kilkeel with three brothers and three sisters. His Father John ran a shoe business in the town and Willie was listed as a shoe maker helping the business.

Somewhere along the way, after the war began, its clear Willie succumbed to the lure of excitement and adventure which proved too much to resist, making shoes was simply too boring and joined up .

I came into possession of an original listing of Kilkeel Ulster Volunteer Force members from 1912 onwards and against Willies listed as Ulster volunteer G10390 name were two enigmatic words “Taken Prisoner” It also recorded his age as being 21.

Up until I saw that I knew only his name and regiment namely 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers. I was guided to an International Red Cross website containing WW.1; POW listings and there I found Willes record. Once I did a rough translation from the German I discovered he had been taken prisoner on the 1st day of the Battle of St Quentin in France 21st of March 1918.

The battle itself began well for the Germans taking large numbers of prisoners, Willie being amongst them. The aim of this offensive was to drive the British into the sea and huge rescources were devoted to achieve this ambitious conclusion. Eventually however due to overstretched supply lines and heavy casualties plus determined allied counter attacks the offensive petered out and proved to be the beginning of the end for the Germans.

Willies POW records are surprising as you will shortly see. My German is non existent so after much puzzling the heading “Gefangen” translated as “Captured” next I typed in Birthday and lo and behold the second mystery word was deciphered “geburtstag”

As you will have noted already he was captured at St Quentin on the 21st of March 1918 the 1st day of that major German offensive,

Secondly with teutonic efficiency they gave Willies date of birth. 27th of July 1903.
This would have meant he was only 15 years old. However there appears to have been a mistake made at the time of recording the 1911 cencus which accounts for the error. The big consolation here was another German heading which read: “Unverwundete” or translated as Unwounded!

After his liberation Willie recieved a handwritten letter from King George V himself (SEE PICTURE ABOVE BESIDE PHOTO) which read:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

1918

The Queen joins me in welcoming
you on your release from the
miseries and hardships which you have
endured with so much patience &
courage.
During these many months of trial
the early rescue of our gallant officers
& men from the cruelties of their captivity
has been uppermost in our thoughts.
We are thankful that this longed
for day has arrived & that back in
the old country you will be able
once more to enjoy the happiness of
a home & to see good days among
those who anxiously look for your
return

George R. I.

Click here for Private Willie Grahams German POW listing on International Red Cross website

German Prisoner of War Record Book.”41557 Pte William Graham 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers”

a)       Graham                             2nd.      St. Quentin. 21.3.18.      22.7.03.Kilkeel.
b)      William          Soldat       Inns. Fus.       unverwundet.              Kilkeel.Co.Down.
c)       41557                                 C                   Westfront.                    Vater : John.

===================================================================

Soldat = Soldier Captured = St Quentin 21.3.18 unverwundet = Unwounded Vater = Father

There was another suprise on the back of the framed letter from the King, Willie had written a remarkable account of his capture and something of his adventures after his army life. Here verbatim or as best as I can make it out plus spelling mistakes and all is what he recorded:

WAS IN
Russia Poland Belgium Denmark
7 years in the YUKON                                                      c/o H. S. LOGAN
WAS ALL OVER AMERICA NORTH N SOUTH           PRIVATE BAG
NOW IN NEW ZEALAND                                              ( HASTINGS: POST TOWN
SINCE 1930                                                                         HAWKES BAY
N.Z.                    1964
WILLIAM GRAHAM
2ND BATTALION ENNISKILLEN
FUSILIERS
AS A YOUTH TRAINED ON THE SAND DUNES IN FRANCE, 4 YEARS THERE AND ONLY GOT ONE LEAVE
ON 21 MARCH 1918 ABOVE REGIMENT WAS TO HOLD
THE POSITION. ST QUENTIAN. FRANCE WHILE THE
WHOLE LINE RETIRED. THE DID HOLD IT. FOR 3 DAYS
WERE SURROUNDED  WHEN A GERMAN OFFICER CAME
OVER WITH A WHITE FLAG AND SHOWN A MAP OF
THE POSITION. TO LORD FARNHAM, THE COL.
HE THEN TOLD THE MEN TO THROW DOWN THEIR
RIFLES AND SURRENDER.
AND THERE WAS ONLY 18 LIVING MEN LEFT.
AND WERE PRISONERS ON FARMS IN GERMANY
UNTILL THE FOLLOWING NOVEMBER
WHEN GERMANY WAS BEATEN AND THE ARMISTICE SIGNED NOV 11. 1918
(HENCE THIS LETTER)
FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING
Margin comments
LEFT: HAD NO BREAD TEA SHORTAGE MILK AND MEAL WAS THEIR “DIRT”
RIGHT: ATTACHED TO THE ULSTER DIVISION AT THIS TIME NO TRENCHES LEFT. ONLY SHELL HOLES FOR COVER