Douglas Alexander Graham
Encyclopedia
Major General Douglas Alexander Henry Graham CB
, CBE
, DSO
& Bar
, MC
, DL
(26 March 1893 – 28 September 1971) was a British
soldier of the First
and Second World War
s. During his early life he studied at the University of Glasgow
. When the First World War broke out, Graham was serving in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and during the conflict was rescued by Henry May
, the action that led to May being awarded the Victoria Cross
. Shortly before the start of the Second World War, Graham was given command of the 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians. He commanded several different Brigades and Divisions during the Second World War including the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division during Operation Overlord
.
, Territorial Force
as a second lieutenant
on 26 September 1911, but he resigned his commission on 25 September 1912. After attending Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, he was granted a regular commission, again as a second lieutenant, on 17 September 1913, in the Cameronians.
Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Graham was promoted to lieutenant
, and he was serving in the 1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), when, on 22 October 1914, he was involved in an action that would lead to the award of the Victoria Cross
. Whilst in the La Boutillerie area of France
, Lieutenant Graham was wounded in the leg and a Private, Henry May
, dragged him 300 yards to safety. Graham was promoted captain
on 18 June 1916, and was appointed a Brigade Major
on 30 April 1917 He was awarded the Military Cross
in the 1918 New Year Honours
. He finished the war having also been awarded the French Croix de guerre
.
as an Assistant Military Secretary
. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1928 and was appointed a Staff Captain with 52nd (Lowland) Division from 19 February 1928. He was promoted to major on 16 December 1930, and from 31 December 1930 to 18 February 1932 he was Deputy Assistant Adjutant
& Quarter-Master General
(DAA&QMG), Lowland Area, Scottish Command. From 1 May 1932 to 30 April 1935 he was Officer Commanding
of the Cameronians Regimental Depot
at Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
.
with the acting rank of brigadier
, and the substantive rank of colonel, part of the British 9th (Highland) Infantry Division
. This changed its designation to the 153rd Infantry Brigade when 9th (Highland) was reformed as British 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. On 11 June 1942 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in that year's King's Birthday Honours, and on 14 January 1943 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
(DSO) for his actions on 2 November 1942 during the Second Battle of Alamein. Following Alamein he continued to command his brigade as it joined the Tunisia Campaign
, he was involved in actions leading up to Operation Pugilist
, in particular an attack on outposts of the Mareth Line
on the night of 16/17 March, that and his performance up to the capture of Sfax
won him a Bar
to his DSO.
In May 1943 he was given command of 56th (London) Division with the rank of acting major general
, initially commanding in North Africa (for which he was Mentioned in Despatches), and then for the landings at Salerno
during Operation Avalanche on 9 September 1943. During the landings and the subsequent campaign, his division was attached to the United States Fifth Army and as a result of his performance during the period up to 18 October 1943, including the capture of Naples
and the advance to the line fo the Volturno
River, he was appointed a Commander of the US Legion of Merit
. He became a temporary major general on 14 May 1944. His Italian service also led to him being appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) on 24 August 1944. In January 1944 he was given Command of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division which would take part in Operation Overlord
, during the initial beach assault on Gold Beach
, he was again Mentioned in Despatches for his contributions to the campaign, The rank of major general was made substantive on 6 October 1944 (with seniority from 1 February). and made an officier of the Légion d'honneur
.
He returned to England with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in November 1944 after the Division had played a supporting role in Operation Market Garden
, the Division was identified to be a training Division, but was soon off to Norway where it was involved in the liberation in 1945. He received a further Mention in Despatches for "gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe" on 22 March 1945.
In Norway he was Commander British Forces Norway where he convened the trial for war crime
s of 10 German soldiers by a Military Court held at the law courts, Oslo
, Norway
. The accused were charged with committing a war crime, in that they at Ulven, Norway, in or about the month of July 1943, in violation of the laws and usages of war, were concerned in the killing of Lt. A. H. Andresen, Petty Officer B. Kleppe, Leading Stoker A. Bigseth, Able Seaman J. Klipper, Able Seaman G. B. Hansen, and Able Seaman K. Hals, Royal Norwegian Navy, and Leading Telegraphist R. Hull, Royal Navy, prisoners of war. For his services to Norway, he was made a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav.
of the County of Ross and Cromarty from 11 June 1956 until his resignation on 15 March 1960.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(26 March 1893 – 28 September 1971) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier of the First
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
s. During his early life he studied at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. When the First World War broke out, Graham was serving in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and during the conflict was rescued by Henry May
Henry May (VC)
Henry May VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.- Early life :...
, the action that led to May being awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. Shortly before the start of the Second World War, Graham was given command of the 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians. He commanded several different Brigades and Divisions during the Second World War including the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division during Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
.
First World War
After leaving Glasgow Academy, Graham was commissioned into 3rd Lowland Brigade, Royal Field ArtilleryRoyal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
, Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 26 September 1911, but he resigned his commission on 25 September 1912. After attending Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, he was granted a regular commission, again as a second lieutenant, on 17 September 1913, in the Cameronians.
Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Graham was promoted to lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
, and he was serving in the 1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), when, on 22 October 1914, he was involved in an action that would lead to the award of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. Whilst in the La Boutillerie area of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Lieutenant Graham was wounded in the leg and a Private, Henry May
Henry May (VC)
Henry May VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.- Early life :...
, dragged him 300 yards to safety. Graham was promoted captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
on 18 June 1916, and was appointed a Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
on 30 April 1917 He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in the 1918 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
. He finished the war having also been awarded the French Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
.
Inter-war period
Graham relinquished his appointment as Brigade Major on 8 June 1919, and returned to regimental duty on 11 January 1920. From 30 October 1921 he was seconded to the Indian ArmyBritish Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
as an Assistant Military Secretary
Military Secretary
The Military Secretary is the British Army appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the British Army. It is a senior British Army appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Major-General. The Military Secretary's...
. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1928 and was appointed a Staff Captain with 52nd (Lowland) Division from 19 February 1928. He was promoted to major on 16 December 1930, and from 31 December 1930 to 18 February 1932 he was Deputy Assistant Adjutant
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
& Quarter-Master General
Quartermaster general
A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...
(DAA&QMG), Lowland Area, Scottish Command. From 1 May 1932 to 30 April 1935 he was Officer Commanding
Officer Commanding
The Officer Commanding is the commander of a sub-unit or minor unit , principally used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. In other countries, the term Commanding Officer is applied to commanders of minor as well as major units.Normally an Officer Commanding is a company, squadron or battery...
of the Cameronians Regimental Depot
Regimental depot
The regimental depot of a regiment is the regimental headquarters and normally also the place where recruits are assembled and trained. It is also where soldiers and officers awaiting discharge or postings are based, and where injured soldiers return to full fitness after discharge from hospital...
at Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
.
Second World War
In June 1937 he had been promoted lieutenant colonel, and given command of 2nd Battalion The Cameronians. In April 1940 he was given command of 27th Infantry Brigade27th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
The 27th Infantry Brigade was a British Army brigade during the Second World War and Korean War. In Korea, the brigade was known as 27th British Commonwealth Brigade due to the addition of Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Indian units....
with the acting rank of brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
, and the substantive rank of colonel, part of the British 9th (Highland) Infantry Division
British 9th (Highland) Infantry Division
The 9th Infantry Division was a second line Territorial Army formation at the beginning of the Second World War. After the surrender of the 51st Highland Division in 1940, the 9th Division, a replica of the 51st Division, was reorganised as the new 51st Infantry Division...
. This changed its designation to the 153rd Infantry Brigade when 9th (Highland) was reformed as British 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. On 11 June 1942 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in that year's King's Birthday Honours, and on 14 January 1943 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO) for his actions on 2 November 1942 during the Second Battle of Alamein. Following Alamein he continued to command his brigade as it joined the Tunisia Campaign
Tunisia Campaign
The Tunisia Campaign was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African Campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces. The Allies consisted of British Imperial Forces, including Polish and Greek contingents, with American and French corps...
, he was involved in actions leading up to Operation Pugilist
Operation Pugilist
Operation Pugilist was an Allied operation in Tunisia during the Second World War. In his General Plan, General Bernard Montgomery stated "...the object of operation Pugilist is to destroy the enemy now opposing Eighth Army in the Mareth position, and to advance and capture Sfax." Pugilist itself...
, in particular an attack on outposts of the Mareth Line
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French between the towns of Medenine and Gabès in southern Tunisia, prior to World War II...
on the night of 16/17 March, that and his performance up to the capture of Sfax
Sfax
Sfax is a city in Tunisia, located southeast of Tunis. The city, founded in AD 849 on the ruins of Taparura and Thaenae, is the capital of the Sfax Governorate , and a Mediterranean port. Sfax has population of 340,000...
won him a Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
to his DSO.
In May 1943 he was given command of 56th (London) Division with the rank of acting major general
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
, initially commanding in North Africa (for which he was Mentioned in Despatches), and then for the landings at Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
during Operation Avalanche on 9 September 1943. During the landings and the subsequent campaign, his division was attached to the United States Fifth Army and as a result of his performance during the period up to 18 October 1943, including the capture of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and the advance to the line fo the Volturno
Volturno
The Volturno is a river in south-central Italy.-Geography:It rises in the Abruzzese central Apennines of Samnium near Rocchetta a Volturno and flows southeast as far as its junction with the Calore River near Caiazzo and runs south as far as Venafro, and then turns southwest, past Capua, to...
River, he was appointed a Commander of the US Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
. He became a temporary major general on 14 May 1944. His Italian service also led to him being appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) on 24 August 1944. In January 1944 he was given Command of 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division which would take part in Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, during the initial beach assault on Gold Beach
Gold Beach
Gold Beach was the code name of one of the D-Day landing beaches that Allied forces used to invade German-occupied France on 6 June 1944, during World War II....
, he was again Mentioned in Despatches for his contributions to the campaign, The rank of major general was made substantive on 6 October 1944 (with seniority from 1 February). and made an officier of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
.
He returned to England with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in November 1944 after the Division had played a supporting role in Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
, the Division was identified to be a training Division, but was soon off to Norway where it was involved in the liberation in 1945. He received a further Mention in Despatches for "gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe" on 22 March 1945.
In Norway he was Commander British Forces Norway where he convened the trial for war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s of 10 German soldiers by a Military Court held at the law courts, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The accused were charged with committing a war crime, in that they at Ulven, Norway, in or about the month of July 1943, in violation of the laws and usages of war, were concerned in the killing of Lt. A. H. Andresen, Petty Officer B. Kleppe, Leading Stoker A. Bigseth, Able Seaman J. Klipper, Able Seaman G. B. Hansen, and Able Seaman K. Hals, Royal Norwegian Navy, and Leading Telegraphist R. Hull, Royal Navy, prisoners of war. For his services to Norway, he was made a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav.
Later life
Graham retired from the army on 6 February 1947. Between 22 August 1954 and 26 March 1958 he was the Colonel of the Regiment of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). He also served as Deputy LieutenantDeputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of the County of Ross and Cromarty from 11 June 1956 until his resignation on 15 March 1960.