Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Contributed by the great great grandaughter of Graham who attends Yankalilla Area School

The Battle of Amiens in France in 1918 was said to be the beginning of the end of World War One. The Allied forces' offensive against the German Army on the 8th of August took the Germans by surprise. 'A mass of assembled allied forces, including Australians launched an offensive to push through the German front lines to victory' (AWM, 2022). The famous Anzac spirit of mateship, courage, endurance, and resourcefulness described by Charles Bean in ANZAC to Amiens, (AWM 2010) would have been present amongst the soldiers of the Australian Imperial Forces on the battlefield that day. Many of the brave young men who pushed forward on the frontline in this battle had already endured years of warfare, death, and destruction. Among those on the battlefield on the 8th of August 1918 was a South Australian lad called Clarence James Graham.

Clarence was the third child of Walter and Mary Ann Graham. Born on October 24th, 1893 in Petersberg (now Peterborough), Clarence was one of nine Graham children. His large family spent their younger years residing in rural towns across South Australia including Petersberg, Port Pirie, Mount Gambier, and Murray Bridge. Their frequent relocations were a result of his father's railway job postings. His father, Walter Graham was transferred from Port Pirie to Mount Gambier when Clarence was around 6 years old. In his reflections (reference family history) Clarence recalls early memories of traveling with his father to Mount Gambier where they found the house the family lived temporarily until a larger house was found in Claraville.

His recollections from the Graham Family History documents show his strong family and sibling bonds remained significant to him throughout his life. One of the many fond memories he recalled was his house in Port Pirie and his time with his many brothers and sisters including the family attending the railway picnics. He remembers traveling by train to the beautiful paddocks surrounding Compton where there would be Men's, Woman's, and Children's races and many more activities.

As children, Clarence and his siblings would wander down and around the edge of the blue lake looking for shortcuts or rough paths. He also remembered the small bridge he had to cross to get to the boat shed and to swim in the Valley Lake. Rabbit shooting, bicycles, and eventually motorcycles were all activities Clarence and his brothers enjoyed in their youth. At 14 years of age, Clarence began working at Vivian Lewis Ltd Cycle and Motor shop where he learned his trade as a motor engineer.

Clarence and his siblings were the 2nd generation of the Graham family to be born in Australia after his Grandparents immigrated as early colonists. Following a proud family tradition of fighting for freedom and their nation, there is little surprise that Clarence enlisted to serve in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF). In his reflections on his life, he vividly recalls the Relief of Mafeking celebrations in the community.

'I remember the Relief of Mafeking (during the Boer War) and I went down the town and saw and heard the explosives going off in Barrett's Blacksmith's shop. I had two uncles go to this war' (Graham, C 1975).

Clarence's grandfather Duncan Graham served in the Crimean War and two uncles fought in the Boer War with only one returning.

Clarence enlisted for service in the Australian imperial forces on the 4th of June 1915, only a few days after his younger brother had already enlisted. He served in the 4th Field Ambulance Unit in the 4th Brigade, 4th Division, AIF for a total of 4 ½years.After 6 months of basic training, Private Clarence James Graham left Australia for the battlefields of France, Egypt, and lsmailia where he would spend the next four years serving his country during World War 1.

Throughout the war, Private Clarence Graham and the 4th Field Ambulance Unit traversed France and were responsible for evacuating sick and wounded soldiers of the AIF and their Allies from pt line Regimental Aid Post (RAP). 'These men would be trained to administer First Aid sufficient to clear airways, staunch bleeding and perhaps splint fractures so that casualties could be evacuated to the Battalion RAP' (4th Field Ambulance n.d.). The conditions on the battlefield were horrific and

medical equipment was in short supply. Records taken at the time describe some of the ailments the soldiers were suffering from including trench fever, gassing, injuries from shelling and bullets, scabies, and influenza. 'The figures for sick are high in comparison but are accounted for by the epidemic of influenza with was prevalent' (AWM4 26/47/34 -July 1918 n.d.). During the month of July cases of influenza and scabies were increasingly common with over 4000 personnel being checked throughout the month.

Over the next four years of service Clarence James Graham and his unit endured the extreme conditions, suffering and bloodshed of the frontline. Their unit suffered many casualties, death and devastation as the number of 'cobbers' lost in the war continued to rise. One can only imagine how Clarence must have felt hearing the news that his brother Mervyn had been transferred to the 4th Field Ambulance Unit to serve alongside his brother (RecordSearch / National Archives of Australia n.d.) As the war progressed Clarence was promoted from Private to Lance Corporal on 10/1/1917 and then only 3 days later promoted again to Corporal and Sargent on 13/1/1917.

As a Mechanical Transport Sargent in France on the 8th of August 1918 Clarence and his mates readied themselves as the Australian Troops and their Allies prepared to take the green line from the German Forces. According to war diaries from August 1918 the Allies advances to the green line were successful and the 3rd and 4th division began evacuating the injured. 'The third and fourth division set up three operating tents, one of which was bombed_shortly after setting up and further deemed unusable, personnel for the destroyed tent were redirected to a nearby location and were under the charge of Sargent Clarence James Graham' (4th Australian Field Ambulance n.d.). It was then that Sargent Graham drove himself through heavy shelling and machine gun fire back to the front line to continue the evacuation. Sargent Graham then took out and posted other ambulance cars managing to save many lives throughout the day and well into the night. Two days later on the 10/8/1918 Sargent Graham, without hesitation repeated his brave actions to rescue his wounded mates. As a result of his actions Clarence was awarded the distinguished conduct medal (DCM) which was presented to him by the Duke of Windsor.

'This N.C.0. has always shown the greatest coolness and resources under shell fire. His bravery and coolness on these two occasions were undoubtably the means of saving many lives' (Graham Clarence James : SERN 6182 : POB Petersburg SA : POE Adelaide SA : NOK M Graham Mary Ann 1914).

On his discharge on December 19th, he married Ivy Ruth Gwynne at the Methodist church, Willaston on the 4th of December 1919. Clarence received a house from the 'thousand homes scheme' in what is now known as Colonel Light Gardens. The couple had six children in the years following the war, sadly losing the first born as an infant. Clarences youngest daughter described him as being a 'good father but raising them as if they were in the army'.

Post war, Clarence's unshakable bond with his brothers, and his love of motor cars continued as he established a company called Graham Bros Motor Engineers with his siblings, Mervyn and Earnest Graham. He later went on to enlist in the volunteer defence corps during World War 2 and served as captain of the corps headquarters from the 30th of March 1942 to the 15th of July 1946.

Sargent Graham's ANZAC spirit was certainly on display on the battlefields of World War 1 showing determination and perseverance on many occasions. His courageous actions and preparedness to risk his life for others has ensured that many families saw their loved one return to home soil and continue the great Australian Dream.

Reference List 

4th Australian Field Ambulance n.d., www.awm.gov.au,

<https://www.awm.gov.au/co11ection/U51764>.

4th Field Ambulance n.d., vwma.org.au.

Australian War Memorial 2010, Anzac spirit I The Australian War Memorial, Awrn.gov.au.

AWM4 26/47/34 -July 1918 n.d., www.awm.gov.au, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1353634>.

Graham Clarence James: SERN 6182 : POB Petersburg SA : POE Adelaide SA : NOK M Graham Mary Ann 1914, National Archives of Australia, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/InterfaceNiewlmage.aspx?B=4669244>.
 

scheme=AGLSTERMS. AglsAgent; corporateName=National Archives of Australia; address=Queen Victoria Terrace, P n.d., RecordSearch - National Archives of Australia, recordsearch.naa.gov.au, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Galleryl51/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=4 669244&S= l 6&N=2 l &R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/Showlmage.aspx?B=4669244& T=P&S=l6>.

ational Archives of Australia n.d., recordsearch.naa.gov.au, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ltemDetail.aspx? Barcode=4668974&isAv=N>.

Australian War Memorial. "1918: Australians in France - Battles I Australian War Memorial." www.awm.gov.au, www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/l918/battles.

Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Amiens I History, Geography, & Points of Interest."
 

Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com/place/Amiens.