Graham B. Mathie

Acting Staff Sergeant, London Regiment

Age 15, Class V B: 'Very nice boy with good mathematical prowess; has worked very steadily.'

Graham B. Mathie lived at 51 Nimrod Road, Streatham with his parents, William and Edith, and his three older brothers, Percy, Gordon and Cecil. After leaving Alleyn’s in 1905, he found work as a clerk and volunteered with the British Territorial Force in his spare time. Graham first joined the TF in 1909 and served with the 6^th City of London Infantry until his time with the force expired in 1913. Having already gained a significant amount of military skills and knowledge with the TF, Graham was quick to sign up to the war effort in 1914. After being declared as medically fit for service, he joined the London Regiment as part of 15^th Battalion in October 1914. Graham served as a Staff Sergeant with the regiment and was stationed at home for the first three years of the war as part of the British reserve forces. It was not until the last year of the war that he received orders to go overseas in 1918. Graham arrived on the Western Front in July and shortly afterwards reverted to the rank of Private from Staff Sergeant by his own request. He served in France until he was wounded in battle on August 23^rd 1918. This injury saw Graham return home to England where he remained until the conflict came to a close. For his service in the war he was awarded the British War and Victory Medal.