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205798 Fus. Edward Graham British Army 1st.Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers from:Portaferry, Co.Down (d.13th Aug 1943) My Father, Fuslier Edward Graham, originally from Chopwell, County Durham, joined the Territorial Army in 1935 and served for four years, being conscripted into the regular Army in 1939. He was transferred into the Royal Irish Fusiliers, who had suffered grievous losses at Dunkirk and sent to training camp at Ballykinler, County Down. In 1942 the regiment sailed to North Africa to bolster Montgomery's 8th Army and then took part in the Allied landings in Sicily as a prelude to the Italian campaign. This was a very bloody and vicious battle, the Germans put up ferocious resistance and the Allie's losses were heavy.
My father was posted missing in action on 13th August 1943 as the Battalion was advancing on the town of Maletto, he was never found. He is commemorated on the panels in the Allied War Cemetery at Cassino, Italy; on the WW2 Memorial in St. John's Parish Church, Chopwell and on the WW2 Memorial in Ballyphilip Parish Church, Portaferry, County Down, where he had married my Mother in 1941. |
Additional Information: | After many frustrating years searching for details of my Father's death, I was fortunate to obtain sight of the war diary for the Royal Irish Fusiliers and, subsequently, a copy of the MOD's Grave Concentration Cards, this enabled me to pinpoint exactly where and in what conflict my Father died. Susequent investigation revealed that he was buried in Catania War Cemetery in a grave marked "Unknown", evidence was submitted to the MOD's Joint casualty and Compassion Committee and they agreed to replace the headstone with one bearing my Father's name and rank, this was done and the MOD organised a Service of Rededication in October 2017 which was a very emotional affair attended by several local dignitaries, military personnel, the bugler and piper from the Rifles Regiment and the Regimental Padre. I have subsequently visited the cemetery, immaculately kept, on two more occasions and hope to do so again.Edward Graham |
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