When looking through my Great Nanny Ives things I came across a handkerchief that is hand embroidered with the emblem of The Royal Fusiliers with a blood stain, I wondered who this must have belonged to.
I went onto do some further research it appears that the handkerchief belonged to my 2 x Great Uncle Charles Edward Ernest Graham, my great Nan’s brother.
Charles was born on 20 September 1899 and grew up in 88 Ironmonger Row St Lukes Finsbury, now part of the London Borough of Islington today. When Charles signed up at the age of 18 years for service he’s occupation was a Carman he fought in WW1 with The Royal Fusiliers in 3rd London Regiment and 10th London Regiment as Private Charles E E Graham.
On the 1st September 1918 he received a gunshot wound to his left hand in France Charles fought in the Battle of the Somme and was injured in Pont-Remy he was sent to The Holborn Military Hospital in Mitcham after the wound healed he was sent for a medical, he was left with impairment he could no longer grip using the left hand he was discharged and sent to the reserve. This gun shot wound most probably saved his life in the long run, whilst researching I came across various photos of men in Charles regiment and it made me wonder who got the chance to come home to see their families and who didn’t make it.
The Royal Fusiliers War memorial, a monument dedicated to the almost 22,000 Royal Fusiliers who died during the First World War, stands on Holborn in the City of London.
In 1921 Charles was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal
Charles later married his wife Ivy in 1927 in Shoreditch they resided in Forston Street Shoreditch then moved back to Islington (Packington Street) in 1934 and in 1939 his occupation was a lead and tin metal caster.
Charles wife Ivy passed away in 1969 and Charles later passed away at the age of 75 in 1975 and was laid to rest with his wife in Newham.
Sources
Photo 1, 2 & 3 Handkerchief
Photo 4, 5 & 6 Soldiers from The Royal Fusiliers
Photo 7 Royal Fusiliers Badge
Photo 8 Royal Fusiliers Memorial in Holborn
God Bless Uncle Charles
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