Graham McDougall was born on 9 February 1895, at Whitehaven, Cumbria, the son of William and Martha McDougall. Volunteering for service in the First World War, he entered France and Flanders on 17 July 1915 with 7/Loyal Regiment, part of 56th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. 7/Loyals were disbanded in France on 10 February 1918, and at it was probably at this time that Graham moved battalions to 9/Loyals, in the 25th Division. This was unfortunate, as the division was fed in piecemeal during the early days of the German Spring Offensive, losing more than half their strength before being withdrawn on 26 March to refit. On 9 April, the division was holding the front line when the Germans opened Operation Georgette on the River Lys. By the time the division was withdrawn again on 4 May, it had lost two-thirds of its fighting strength and 9/Loyals were one of the worst hit battalions. The division was then sent to the Aisne front to recover and recuperate, and it was here that they faced a German assault for the third time in 2 months on 27 May. Graham was taken prisoner at Romain on 27 May 1918, apparently unwounded. He died on 14 October, and was buried at Neuville Communal Cemetery, Montignies-sur-Sambre, a suburb of Chaleroi. His body was exhumed after the War and reburied at Harlebeke.

Stuart Lyon