Henry Graham

Henry was the son of Henry and Florence Louisa Graham nee Garnett. He had one brother, Robert (b. Bishop Thorpe York, 14 January 1902). His mother Florence Louisa was born in Newark in 1872 (A/M/J Newark), the daughter of James and Mary Elizabeth Garnett (later spelt Garnet). She had eleven siblings. She lived with her parents in Newark but by the time of 1891 Census was probably living at 169 Cleethorpes Road, Hull, as a boarder in the household of Robert Smith and his wife. She was 19 years old and employed (occupation illegible on census). No record of her marriage has yet been traced in the United Kingdom, but her son Henry's school record at Dulwich in 1912 gives his father's name, occupation ('independent means') and that he had 'died abroad', so the marriage may have taken place overseas. In 1901 Florence (29) and Henry (2) were registered at a lodging house at 6 Prospect Place, Harrogate, along with Florence's sister, Margaret Annie Garnet (17) a milliner's apprentice. Florence's second son, Robert, was born the following year. Florence was widowed by 1911 and living at 'Manhattan', Buregate Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk, with her sons Henry (12) and Robert (9) who were attending a private school, St Felix. The brothers later attended Dulwich College and lived at 30 Chestnut Road, West Norwood. Henry left Dulwich College in April 1916 and joined the Indian Army. His brother Robert attended naval school and joined the Clan Line, later transferring to the Royal Naval Reserve as midshipman. He died aged 16 at the Royal Naval Hospital Plymouth on 2 October 1918 from pneumonia following influenza. He was buried in Plymouth (Ford Park) Cemetery. Robert's record on the CWGC Debt of Honour gives his mother's address as 23 Lytton Avenue, Palmer's Green, London. Florence was recorded at the Marina Lagos Hotel, Bexhill, Sussex, at the time the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. Her date of birth was given as 16 March 1872 and she was of 'independent means'. She died at the Sherwood Hospital, Nottingham, on 20 March 1959. Probate was awarded to her married sister Margaret Annie Lyon. Florence's youngest brother, Grosvenor Garnet (sic), served with the Canadian Infantry and later as second lieutenant in the Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in France on 9 October 1917 and was buried in Cement House Cemetery, Langemark-Poelkapelle (see record on this Roll of Honour).

He was educated at Dulwich College (January 1912-April 1916) and on leaving college joined the Indian Army as a cadet. He was gazetted to the 74th Punjabis in 1917.

74th attd. 67th Punjabis Henry joined the Indian Army as a cadet on leaving Dulwich College in 1916. He trained at Quetta and in 1917 was gazetted to the 74th Punjabis. He served in Mesopotamia where he was attached to the 67th Punjabis. Henry was killed near Balad Ruz on 28 June 1917 while leading a cavalry patrol (see 'Extra information'). Henry has no known grave and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq (former Mesopotamia), Panel 47.

See website 'dulwichcollege1914-18.co.uk/fallen' for obituary and documents relating to Henry and Robert's school records inc. personal letters. The following is an extract from the Magnus School, Newark, diary of the 'Great War' :- Wednesday 24 October 1917: The [Newark] Advertiser carried news of two more deaths of local heroes from the same family. Second Lieutenant Grosvenor Garnet, aged 23, the sixth and youngest son of James Garnet, had been killed in action in France on 9 October 1917. Educated at the Magnus, he sailed to Canada in 1910 and on the outbreak of War joined the Canadian Light Infantry, arriving in England with them in July 1915 and going out to France in September 1916. He was subsequently transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers; and was killed leading his Company of the 1st Battalion into action. Second Lieutenant W Addison wrote: ‘In spite of many hardships we had from time to time to undergo, your son always set us a splendid example in cheerfulness and courage.’ … Only 18 years and four months old, Second Lieutenant Henry Graham, a grandson of James Garnet, had been killed in action in Mesopotamia on 27 June 1917 while attached to the 67th Punjabis and placed in command of a cavalry patrol. His Major explained: ‘Your son went out to drive off, with the assistance of armoured cars, a party of Arabs who were attacking a convoy about four miles away. No cavalry officer being available, and as your son was always extremely keen to go on little jaunts of that sort, he was offered the command and accepted with sparkling eyes. The last I saw of him was when he rode out of camp at the head of the cavalry, looking as happy as a lord. The cavalry drew back and pursued the Arabs but, going rather too far, found the enemy increasing and working round the flank (right). So at 10.30 your son gave the order to retire and he and four men covered the right flank ... The main body was able to get back to the road but the right flank party were surrounded and shot down.’ Note: Henry’s younger brother Robert completed the family’s unwanted trilogy by dying of pneumonia in Plymouth in 1918 while serving as a Midshipman ... Henry is remembered on the Basra Memorial in Iraq; Grosvenor in the Cement House Cemetery, Langemark-Poelkapelle near Ypres.