RAF Sergeant Missing
Title
RAF Sergeant Missing
Description
A newspaper cutting with some details of Graham's life and accident.
Date
1940-11-22
Temporal Coverage
Spatial Coverage
Language
Format
One newspaper cutting
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
NGrahamG210728-01
Transcription
R.A.F. Sergeant Missing
Mr. and Mrs. William Graham, of 85 Maple Crescent, Leigh, received a telegram on Friday last informing them that their elder son, Sergeant Granville Graham. R.A.F., was reported missing.
[photograph]
This was confirmed by a letter from the R.A.F. Records Office the following day stating that the aircraft of which he was the wireless operator had crashed into the sea off the English coast during an operation flight. "This does not necessarily mean that he is killed or wounded,” states the writer, “and I will communicate with you again immediately I have any further news.”
Sergeant Graham was just one month short of 22 years of age. He was educated at Windermere Road Council School and afterwards worked in the offices of Messrs. Harrison McGregor and Co., Ltd., Albion Works, Leigh. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the war and was trained as a wireless operator and air gunner. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant about eight weeks ago and was over on leave quite recently returning only a week last Tuesday. He was very keen on his job and very proud of the R.A.F.
He was a member of Westleigh Methodist Church and was a teacher in the Primary Department until he joined the Air Force. He also played cricket for the Westleigh Methodist team. Possessing a good voice, he was one of the instigators of a band of vocalists known as the "Harmony Five," and afterwards of the "Four Ko[indecipherable letter]lites," a quartette which on several occasions gave broadcast performances. The other three were Ronnie Taylor, Jack Howarth and Ronnie Haseldine.
Sergeant Graham was a young man of fine physique and happy pleasant disposition. He was popular wherever he went, and Leigh people will join in wishing that his parents will soon receive news of his safety.
Mr. and Mrs. William Graham, of 85 Maple Crescent, Leigh, received a telegram on Friday last informing them that their elder son, Sergeant Granville Graham. R.A.F., was reported missing.
[photograph]
This was confirmed by a letter from the R.A.F. Records Office the following day stating that the aircraft of which he was the wireless operator had crashed into the sea off the English coast during an operation flight. "This does not necessarily mean that he is killed or wounded,” states the writer, “and I will communicate with you again immediately I have any further news.”
Sergeant Graham was just one month short of 22 years of age. He was educated at Windermere Road Council School and afterwards worked in the offices of Messrs. Harrison McGregor and Co., Ltd., Albion Works, Leigh. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the war and was trained as a wireless operator and air gunner. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant about eight weeks ago and was over on leave quite recently returning only a week last Tuesday. He was very keen on his job and very proud of the R.A.F.
He was a member of Westleigh Methodist Church and was a teacher in the Primary Department until he joined the Air Force. He also played cricket for the Westleigh Methodist team. Possessing a good voice, he was one of the instigators of a band of vocalists known as the "Harmony Five," and afterwards of the "Four Ko[indecipherable letter]lites," a quartette which on several occasions gave broadcast performances. The other three were Ronnie Taylor, Jack Howarth and Ronnie Haseldine.
Sergeant Graham was a young man of fine physique and happy pleasant disposition. He was popular wherever he went, and Leigh people will join in wishing that his parents will soon receive news of his safety.
Collection
Citation
“RAF Sergeant Missing,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed November 12, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/43112.