PARAS 2 Graham, John David Carew

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Graham
  • FORENAME
John David Carew
  • UNIT
1 Para (Commanding Officer)
  • RANK
Lieutenant Colonel
  • NUMBER
243024
  • AWARD
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
  • PLACE
1966 (Middle East)
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 18.1.1923 Chatham, Kent
son of Colonel J.A. Graham (late R.E.)
educated Cheltenham College
enlisted 1941 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Private)
commissioned 1942
2 Bn A & SH 1942-45 (Lt - Captain)
WIA March 1945 Rhine Crossing
award Mention in Despatches
5 Bn Parachute Regiment 1945
attended London University 1952 (learned Czech language)
British Embassy, Prague
GCHQ, Cheltenham (2 years)
Staff appointment, Edinburgh
1 Bn A & SH
Military Assistant to Commanding General of NATO's Allied Forces Central Europe
1 Bn Parachute Regiment (C.O) 1964-66
served Aden, Bahrain,Gulf States and Oman
Staff College (instructor) 1967
Regimental Colonel, Parachute Regiment 1968-69
Commander of the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces 1970-72 (Brigadier)
award C.B.E. 1972
National Defence College of India, Delhi (1 year)
Allied Forces Central Europe, NATO
GOC Wales (Major General) 1976
retired 1978
award C.B. 1978
Administrator of Chevening (country house of Prince of Wales) 1978-89
moved to Christ Church, Barbados 1990s
married Rosemary Adamson 1958 (2 children)
died 14.12.2012 Barbados
London Gazette 44210, 30th December 1966, Page 7 (OBE)
 

CITATION:

Officer of the Order of the British Empire : Lieutenant Colonel Graham has commanded the 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment since 5th November 1964.

He has proved himself to be an extremely successful commanding officer.

His abilities have particularly shone in a year's semi-accompanied tour which his Battalion carried out in Bahrain from March 1965 to March 1966, from which they returned high in morale, well-trained and with an excellent sense of purpose. The reputation of the Parachute Regiment in the Middle East was even further enhanced as a result.

This was due to the standard of leadership shown by Lieutenant Colonel Graham and his determination to make the best use of a tour in a desolate area which could have had a frustrating effect on those soldiers whose second experience it was there.

He was able to impart this determination and spirit to the whole Battalion. By his tremendous energy, zeal and hard work he turned to good account a difficult period and obtained the best possible value from it, improving the general standard of training throughout.

Lieutenant Colonel Graham has achieved these results by an unflagging optimism and by a dedication to his Battalion and to the Army which went far beyond the normal call of duty.

Place : UK - Melf - UK
Date of Action : November 1964 - May 1966
How Employed : Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment

WEB LINKS:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44210/supplement/7 (OBE)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7631009

NATIONAL ARCHIVES:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7631009
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