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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 566

A 1952 B.E.M., M.S.M. group of seven awarded to Drum Major W. G. Graham, Scots Guards

British Empire Medal, G.VI.R., Military Division (2692445 Drum Major William G. Graham. S.G.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (2692445 Gdsmn. W. G. Graham. S.G.); France & Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., Regular Army (2692445 Sgt. W. G. Graham. S.G.); Army M.S.M., G.VI.R. (2692445 C/Sjt. W. G. Graham. B.E.M. S.G.), the first and sixth with officially re-impressed naming, the last with minor official correction to unit, good very fine (7)

B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1952. The citation states:

'Drum Major Graham was appointed Drum Major in October 1939. When large ceremonial parades began after World War II, he had become the Senior Drum Major, Brigade of Guards. In this capacity he was largely responsible for the drill and performance of bands of the Brigade of Guards when massed for an important occasion. The King's Birthday Parade is such an occasion, when the massed bands number about four hundred and fifty. In 1947 Drum Major Graham's job was an exceedingly difficult one, as he alone knew and fully understood the more complicated movements of the massed bands. By his own perseverance and fine example he gradually worked the bands up to the pitch of perfection attained in pre-war days. His own personal performance, bearing, word of command and leadership of the massed bands has moreover been conspicuous on the King's Birthday Parade and on other occasions when the bands of the Brigade of Guards have been massed during the last five years. It is extremely doubtful whether any other person serving in the Brigade of Guards could have performed these arduous duties with such outstanding success.'

William Gordon Graham was born on 18 September 1912 and enlisted at London on 26 October 1927 in the Scots Guards. Graham saw active service in Palestine, 20 September-30 December 1936 and in North-West Europe during the Second World War, 6 February-3 March 1945, thus only earning the France & Germany Star. Having risen to become the Senior Drum Major in the Brigade of Guards, Graham was discharged on 17 September 1952; sold together with Soldier's Record and Pay Book, Certificate of Service, box of issue for the M.S.M., Citation for the B.E.M., besides forwarding letter and photographs of the recipient.

For the Medals of his father, please see Lot 559.

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Sold for
£750

Starting price
£450