Orders, Decorations and Medals

Presentation Scroll Case, highly ornate heavy-guage silver case, by J. Manikrai, Karachi, 34.5cm. long, 5.5 - 8cm. dia. (approx.), inscribed ‘Presented to J. N. R. Graham Esq. V.C. by Guarantee & Petty Brokers and Staff, Karachi 1929’, with one detachable end and a hollow interior to hold a scroll, good very fine £400-600

Lieutenant (later Lieutenant-Colonel) John Reginald Noble Graham, 9th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, attached 136th Machine Gun Corps, won the Victoria Cross (London Gazette 14 September 1917) for his gallantry at Istabulat, Mesopotamia on 22 April 1917. The Register of the Victoria Cross states: ‘Lieutenant Graham was in command of a machine-gun section which came under very heavy fire. When his men became casualties he insisted on carrying the ammunition and although twice wounded, he continued in control and with one gun opened accurate fire on the enemy. This gun was put out of action and he was again wounded and forced to retire, but before doing so he disabled his gun and then brought a Lewis gun into action with excellent effect until all the ammunition was expended. He was wounded yet again and again was forced to retire.’

Graham was born in Calcutta, India on 17 September 1892. He served in the Second World War, was Knighted, and was Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod to the Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Thistle, 1959-79. Sir Reginald Graham, V.C. died in Edinburgh on 6 December 1980.