Dad, Grampa, Uncle James, Uncle Jimmy, Jimmy, was so many things to so many people. Husband to the late May, father to Alison, Grampa to Kirsty, Grandfather-in-law, Uncle, Father-in-law, friend, neighbour, golf buddy, work colleague and no doubt many more. He was born in Irvine on 16/12/1920 to Andrew & Jean, welcomed into the family by his big brother Harry and in the following years they welcomed younger brother Andrew & sister Margaret to complete the family.
The family lived in Peter Street down Harbour side in Irvine and then moved a matter of yards to a new house in Bimson Place. His was a happy carefree childhood where the world was just one big playground.
When war broke out, he was in a reserved occupation working in a local iron foundry and watched his pals one by one go off to “the excitement” of the war. Along with a close friend John, they resolved to volunteer but we were initially turned away because “we are full up at the minute”! John and Jimmy then went to Glasgow and enlisted. John was accepted for the Marines, Jimmy for the RAF. Jimmy was never to see his friend again.
Jimmy was a Tail Gunner of the crew of Lancaster “Q for Queenie” of 576 Squadron, based at RAF Elsham Wolds in Lincolnshire. Quite remarkably he survived 36 bombing missions over France & Germany at a time when the average tail gunner survived only 5 flights in the terror of war in the air. “Tail End Charlie”, as the job was known, was seated in the rear turret, which was in the unheated section of the fuselage, and this was also the most isolated position. Once in their turret, basically an open wire gage, most rear gunners did not see another member of their crew until the aircraft returned to base – sometimes 10 hours after takeoff.
As a young tail gunner he was awarded the DFM (Distinguished Flying Medal) which was awarded for exceptional valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. This time last year he was delighted to be awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur by the French Government as a way of honouring and thanking those who fought and risked their lives to secure France’s liberation during the Second World War.
Of the 36 missions he flew one of the most significant was the raid on the night of 3rd/4th May 1944 to Mailly-le-Camp in the Champagne region of Northern France. The gathering area for planes was above Chalons sur Marne. They arrived to find that all Hell had broken loose! Lancasters circling were being picked off by German Night Fighters arriving in force . … Lancaster down ….and another…and another …and flying into each other. He would duck as a Lancaster skimmed above him. Where was the attack order? Jimmy from the tail and Stan the mid-upper kept their eyes open – but thankfully no-one wanted them; plenty of other targets. Suddenly, RT silence broken by a strong Aussie voice. “The Hell with this – let’s go before we are picked off!”.... and “Go” they did. Charles, the pilot lined them up for a clear run in and Nick, the bomb aimer, released his bombs right on target . …and then they made a beeline for home without further incident “but going like Hell”.
Safely down and straight to debriefing. Safely home and glad to be so. Good mission – or was it? Truth of losses was sinking in. How many crews down? 5, 10 or was it more?
Gradually the truth emerges, 42 crews gone – 294 Lancaster airmen lost in one night! The radio jamming had caused delay. The circling Lancasters had been easy prey for the Night Fighters. The German Panzer camp at Mailly had gone but at some price!
Debriefing over; time to relax – time for another special treat…….. a boiled egg.
Time to relax – but neverto forget.
Jimmy’s granddaughter Kirsty’s favourite tipple is Veuve Clicquot Champagne. She really thinks her Grampa’s a hero, as she believes he saved the entire Champagne industry through his wartime efforts!
Of course in wartime there were other exciting things to happen to a handsome young man in uniform? While home on leave he headed off on the bus from Irvine to visit his Aunt Grace & Uncle Harry in Ardrossan and of course that was a family visit that was to shape the rest of his life as it was there that he bumped into May Muir the daughter of a neighbour of his Aunt & Uncle. The relationship blossomed and Jimmy & May were to marry on 21 January 1948 and in August 1949 Alison arrived to make their family complete.
Towards the end of the war, when Jimmy came out of the RAF, he worked at Prestwick Airport for a while in what was then called Flying Control. The pay was poor, with little prospect of improvement and as a young married man with a wife to support, and in common with a number of his colleagues, he left to a better-paid job. He started work with Shell Mex & BP in Ardrossan as a tanker driver and then worked his way up through the organization as shift manager, office manager, terminal manager at Old Kilpatrick, Time & Motion Study manager in head office in Glasgow and finally the post he retired from Scottish Transport Manager for BP.
All work and no play would have made Jimmy a very dull boy indeed, but of course that was never going to happen. As a West of Scotland youngster he was a keen golfer from a very young age and in 1949 he became a member of West Kilbride Golf Course where he was to remain a member for the 69 years until his death. As a lifetime golfer he played a great number of the courses in Scotland, rating Turnberry as one of the world’s best, he played in Ireland, America, Portugal and frequently in Spain in courses nearby the family holiday home in Alicante.
Golf was a very big part of his life, and like so many other things he was very good at it, having held a handicap of 3 for many years. Through golf he formed so very many friendships which were to be of lifetime importance to him, important when he retired in 1980 and then in 1997 when his wife May died.
Not only did he play frequently and very well but he also took every available opportunity to develop an interest and ability in others and from this grew a wider friendship. Unfortunately this was the only area where his daughter Alison & granddaughter Kirsty could not be inspired by him! They were much more easily influenced by his love of gardening – especially when the produce from the greenhouse was available!
Alison & her Dad were great pals and shared so much together over the years. Kirsty’s arrival in 1979 was the icing on his cake. Having recently retired he found a new little person to “manage” – probably his biggest ever management challenge! With Alison back at work teaching, Jimmy was a one day a week child-minder – a modern man, a very hands on grandpa and a dab hand at nappy changes, baths etc.! Nothing was too much trouble for “the wean”. But of course when you’ve lived a life where you were always working to improve your golf handicap, his grandparenting style wasn’t one of spoiling and pandering. It was about challenge & constant self-improvement. This was the approach he took with her through primary & secondary schools, university, career choice & future pathways. He was an incredibly proud Grampa and his love for Kirsty knew no bounds. One of his proudest moments was being with her on the day of her wedding to Alastair 9 years ago; you can see the happiness beaming from his face dancing away with her to Walking on Sunshine. Alastair, Kirsty’s husband, was always Jimmy’s “Go To” person to sort all his technology problems – I hope Sky appreciates the many customer queries he’s fielded on their behalf!
Alison & family have played host to numerous foreign language assistants from France & Spain over the years. These were relationships which have continued and many of the tributes the family have received have been from these young (and now not so young) people all over europe. Notably Irene, Pablo & Cristina Sanchez who have know Jimmy for 30+ years and have always known him affectionately as their Scottish Grandpa. Javier, a young Spanish Vet friend has flown over to show his respects today. As recently as 3 weeks ago he was delighted to get a visit from Franck & Sophie Milhem who live near Paris and with whom the family have shared visits back and forth for 30+ years.
All of the young people who have visited over the years have had the opportunity to have a wee taste of golf and have been treated to Jimmy's version of being Tour Guide Extraordinaire to places of beauty and eateries in West Of Scotland. E.G. I suspect they were all given a lengthy explanation of the mystery of such local delights as The Electric Brae – probably similar to the stories about the length of legs of Haggis!
For a long number of years he went to France each year in May for an RAF commemorative event to mark the 3/4thMay Mailly raid with his most recent trip being 4 years ago – no mean feat as a 94 year old and one of the very few remaining veterans to attend and participate. On one of these visits he became friendly with a young Australian man, Tony, and his then fiancé Elizabeth, who were tracing some of the history of his Uncle who had served in the RAF and died during WW2. He was thrilled to meet Jimmy who had served with his Uncle Jack. This was a friendship which has lasted more than 15 years and resulted in some Australian trips e.g. to attend the young couples wedding and amongst other things a walk over the Sidney Harbour Bridge – pretty good going when you’re in your 80’s. Virtually weekly phone calls between Tony & Jimmy tried so hard to sort the ways of the world as major political issues were given a dashed good airing. As a committed European, given his wartime efforts, you can well imagine his views on Brexit!
What of Alison you may wonder, indeed the apple of her father’s eye. Since her Mum died Jimmy & Alison spent a lot of time together both here and abroad. They managed to share their love of good food & wine and travel; they’ve been on many trips together home and abroad in France & Spain. Until very recently, when his mobility became a problem, Jimmy joined Alison several times each year for trips to Alicante where he had a great many Spanish friends. He so enjoyed the lifestyle and of course the warm climate and golf! Jimmy was obliging enough to choose to have his heart attack and subsequent triple bypass in Alicante in his early 80’s! When asked by friends and family why he hadn’t tried to get home for the surgery he said that in his opinion the nurses were far better looking in Spain! On his discharge from hospital after this surgery, when he was being given dietary and lifestyle advice by the cardiac surgeon, he was advised to have a glass of red wine with each meal every day. He immediately came back with the quip “does that include breakfast”!
To sum up who and what was Jimmy Graham:
Strong, Proud, Family Oriented, Fair, Brave, Good-humoured, Loyal, Unafraid, Undaunted, Appreciative, Vigorous, Self-Respecting and most of all a True Hero of our time.