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Captain John Graham
Description
DescriptionJohn was born at Dunedin on 9th November 1875, son of Andrew and Isabella Graham. He married Isabella May nee Arrow in 1899 and they had three children. Before enlisting he worked for NZ Railways. He went to Lincoln as Stationmaster in 1909, and remained in that position till he left to join the Expeditionary Force. He had considerable military experience as he had been acting Captain of the Napier Rifles at the time of the Boer War and was Captain of the Canterbury Railway Engineers. He was also involved in the local community. For a number of years he was a member of the District High School Committee, Chairman and Treasurer of the Board of Management of the Presbyterian Church and Secretary of the Public Library. He was a prominent Freemason, being a past master and a member of the Canterbury Provincial Lodge and one of the founders of the Winton Lodge. Captain Graham was very popular in Lincoln, both as stationmaster and citizen. It was said that “a more courteous and obliging officer would be hard to find, and while he had guarded the interests of his Department, he had usually managed to give the public as much as the regulations permitted, and the result was that he was leaving behind a very wide circle of friends”. Before he embarked a large and representative gathering of residents of the surrounding districts assembled at the Druids' Hall in early October to show their appreciation of his services while amongst them. The deceased officer was revered and beloved alike by officers and men. He was 5ft 8in tall.
John enlisted on 17th October 1916 and was assigned to the 25th Reinforcements. He embarked for England on 26th April 1917 on board the Tofua. He arrived in England and marched into Sling where he was posted to the Canterbury Infantry on 20th July. After a period of training he left for the front on 15th September reaching Etaples on 17th and joining the Division in the field on the 29th September. A mere five days later he was wounded in action on 4th October, during the Battle of Broodseinde near Ypres in Flanders. He suffered a gunshot wound to head, with a compressed skull fracture. He was taken by field ambulance to the casualty clearing station and then on to hospital behind the lines at the Duchess of Westminster Hospital at Le Touquet. He died there three days later of meningitis, aged 42. He had left for the front less than three weeks earlier. He was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais. In New Zealand John is remembered on the Lincoln Roll of Honour.First NameJohnLast NameGrahamFamilyMarried to Isabella May ArrowSon of Andrew and Isabella GrahamDate of Birth9 November 1875Place of BirthDunedinDate of Death4 October 1917Place of DeathEtaples, Pas-de-Calais, FranceCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death42
John enlisted on 17th October 1916 and was assigned to the 25th Reinforcements. He embarked for England on 26th April 1917 on board the Tofua. He arrived in England and marched into Sling where he was posted to the Canterbury Infantry on 20th July. After a period of training he left for the front on 15th September reaching Etaples on 17th and joining the Division in the field on the 29th September. A mere five days later he was wounded in action on 4th October, during the Battle of Broodseinde near Ypres in Flanders. He suffered a gunshot wound to head, with a compressed skull fracture. He was taken by field ambulance to the casualty clearing station and then on to hospital behind the lines at the Duchess of Westminster Hospital at Le Touquet. He died there three days later of meningitis, aged 42. He had left for the front less than three weeks earlier. He was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais. In New Zealand John is remembered on the Lincoln Roll of Honour.First NameJohnLast NameGrahamFamilyMarried to Isabella May ArrowSon of Andrew and Isabella GrahamDate of Birth9 November 1875Place of BirthDunedinDate of Death4 October 1917Place of DeathEtaples, Pas-de-Calais, FranceCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death42
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageLincoln War Memorial Roll of HonourMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryEtaples Military Cemetery, Pas-de-CalaisLincoln Roll of HonourOccupation before EnlistingStation MasterRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details17th October 1916Service Number39730Rank Last HeldCaptainEmbarkation26th April 1917Place of EmbarkationWellingtonTransportTofuaTheatre of WarWestern Front
Captain John Graham. Selwyn Stories, accessed 20/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/461