Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Oliphant Graeme, CMG, MiD (3 Citations)
1st Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 29th October 1872
Place of Birth: Crieff, Perth, Scotland
Date of Death: 10th March 1916, aged 44
Buried: Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery.
Remembered on the Shaldon Clock Tower Memorial and also on the Memorials at St Andrews Church, Stokeinteignhead.
Mentioned in Despatches (3 Citations)
Companion of The Order of St Michael and St George (Citation not located)
Mentioned in Dispatches (3 Citations), awarded the Queen's Medal with five clasps, the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Lieutenant Colonel Graeme CMG was born on 29th October 1872.
He was the first son of Lt. Col. Lawrence Anthony Murray Graeme (House of Inchbrakie 1st Madras Fusiliers) and Catherine Glas née Sandeman of Fonthill, Shaldon, Devon.
Fonthill in the 1870s from an album of the Lucases of Dunmore (General Lucas)
Fonthill in the 1870s from an album of the Lucases of Dunmore (General Lucas)
He was schooled at Charterhouse 1886 - 1889 and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, Cameron Highlanders on the 18th June 1892; promoted to Lieutenant on 1s Feb 1894, being Adjutant of his regiment from 17th November 1897 to 4th June 1901; subsequently, Captain 2nd November 1898, Major 12th July 1909 and Temp Lieutenant-Colonel on 11th June 1915.
He saw service in the South African War 1899-1902; as Adjutant of the 12th Battalion Mounted Infantry from October 1901 to 31st May 1902, taking part in the operations in the Transvaal October to December 1901, and March to 31st May 1902. Further operations included; Orange River Colony May to October 1901, and December 1901 to March 1902, and those in Cape Colony May 1902 (awarded the Queen's Medal with five clasps).
He was Adjutant of the Imperial Yeomanry from 1st April 1903 to 31st March 1907, after which he rejoined the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders, being transferred to the 2nd Battalion in India after his promotion. He became an extra ADC to the King-Emperor during the latter's visit to India and returned to England in 1914 where he served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 19th December 1914, as Second in Command.
Queens Own Cameron Highlanders
Cap Badge
On promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel he was given command of the 1st Battalion, and was killed in action near Loos, France 10th March 1916.
He married on 10th August 1906 Penelope (née Hopkinson), of Sutton Grange, Wansford, Peterborough.
During the Great War, he was three times mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes, 22 June, 1915, and 1 Jan 1916) by FM Sir John (now Lord) French, and (London Gazette, 15 June 1916) by General (now FM) Sir Douglas Haig, for gallant and distinguished service in the field, and was also awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George on 1 Jan 1916.
London Gazette 15th June 1916
London Gazette 31st December 1915
London Gazette 31st December 1915
31st December 1915
London Gazette No. 29422.
Mentioned in Despatches. The following despatch has been received by the Secretary of State for War from the Field Marshall Commanding-in-Chief the British Army in France. I have the honour to bring to notice the name, whom I recommend for gallant and distinguished service in this field. 31/12/1915 Temp Lieut Col.
London Gazette
31st December 1915
London Gazette issue 29623.
Mentioned in Despatches. General Haig has the honour to forward herewith the names of those under his command whom he wished to bring to notice for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field. 13-6-16 (Published after his death).
He is buried in Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Ref. I. K. 29.
Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery. Image from inmemories.com
Gravestone