british_army soldier irish non commissioned officer british_army napoleonic wars recognised man army serving guards commended gallantry defence graham saved life officer brother small group responsible closing french attack act won duke wellington rewarded specially cast gallantry medal graham continued serve distinction credited saving life lord arrest street conspirators later serving 12th graham discharged ill health died royal hospital early life service born clones ireland brothers serve british_army graham enlisted 2nd stationed england soldiers time signed life exchange bounty large portion absorbed cost graham assigned battalion light company corporal unusual join english scottish regiments great_britain ireland battalions napoleonic wars proportion irish soldiers guards regiment group elite infantry regiments british_army background natural attributes recruits differed little recruited regiments received superior training expected maintain rigorous discipline wellington considered guards best army road united_kingdom allies war napoleon early wellington army fought way peninsula france eastern allies threatening france eastern borders march allied armies entered paris napoleon april month napoleon exiled appeared war arrangements peace discussed congress vienna february napoleon escaped returned france raised army allies assembled army planned summer offensive companies garrisoned brussels joined remaining companies early preparation coming offensive graham battalion joined form 1st basing belgium allies formed armies duke wellington commanding commanding napoleon marched swiftly france meet split army launch attack june napoleon led men commanded attack wellington forward army battle wellington received news napoleon position night june issued orders army hold ground graham battalion rest 2nd brigade left morning 16th mile march reached time battle engaged hours guards immediately deployed position support 1st foot guards engaged enemy wood cleared french lieutenant colonel led 2nd brigade light companies including graham counter attack guards companies support guards battalions sustained heavy losses wellington position strengthened withdrawn men wellington held field french lost men allies wellington held successful forced retreat hearing defeat morning june wellington ordered army withdraw level ally took position near belgian village graham company scots guards light company masked retreat right leave mid afternoon field wide parallel ridges running west east creating shallow valley allied right lay collection walled farm buildings lying closer french line allies line recognising defensive importance wellington ordered nassau troops occupy farm allied hands provide cover flanking fire french assault main allied line french hands provide launch attacks defended road allies right flank wellington ordered held costs day battle began june french attack south west led napoleon brother french gained control park allies retained possession farmhouse courtyard surrounds continued attempts farmhouse day making assaults repulsed defenders fired windows assault breached north gate left open allow allied troop supply movements french 1st broke wooden doors axe allowing french soldiers flood courtyard graham commanding officer lieutenant colonel led men melee courtyard gates attempt shut pressing french help officers captain corporal graham soldiers including graham brother joseph slot bar place debris gates hold secure trapped courtyard killed apart young drummer boy wellington monitored action time content position security concentrate attention allied centre secure british german troops vicinity able defend estimated french soldiers french soldiers died attacking day battle graham saved life captain shut gate shooting sniper musket trained officer mid afternoon fire broke farm buildings following bombardment shells graham brother joseph lying wounded graham requested permission fall rescue brother given permission retrieved brother returned post died wounds days later defenders resisting despite burning buildings ammunition couple hours action rest field resulted victory allies french retreat wellington declared success battle turned closing gates likely gates shut quickly men holding perimeter killed costly defence guards lost officers casualties men promoted sergeant bravery received special medal gallantry man wellington respect served known battle wrote depend troops held british best best soldiers graham stood exceptional august rector sought income farm soldier approached duke wellington nominated graham graham received farm year years vicar bankrupt wellington vol mention graham assisted lieutenant colonel closing gates left open purpose communication enemy act forcing brother corporal regiment lying wounded barn fire graham removed secure fire returned duty years regiment honour noted service record held words battle selected duke wellington reverend died reported number books newspapers years following recovered fortunes leave man england appealed wellington turned events selecting colonel apparently split graham shut gate remains doubt concerning second graham entry dictionary national biography records initial states apparently incorrect versions gift published reference alleged sum given colonel reported investigations fellow researcher find proof murray concluded reports arose original history colonel provided account graham action later reference second despite reporting graham death hospital personally interviewed graham later career graham continued serve guards advanced paris army remaining army occupation posted november returned england stationed london detachment guards ordered support police arrest street conspirators command captain later given title lord illegitimate sons duke arrest straightforward ensued identified man saved life graham discharged guards enlisted 12th private graham joined stationed ireland returned england squadrons saw service portugal returning england graham discharged ill health injured chest worn july received pension died buried military honours memorial plaque erected hospital later transferred clones obituary appeared gentleman magazine april light company 2nd battalion guards individual selected duke wellington brave desperate combat order profit generous offer rector pension life soldier distinguished brigade guards glorious day minute inquiry carried sir directions laurel awarded native sic enduring legacy exploits celebrated great_britain accounts battle reference actions including biography wellington memoirs sergeant magazine shutting gate portrayed artist painting currently held scotland portrait held ireland actions graham continue remembered iconic moment battle cigarette manufacturers portrayed graham cigarette cards printed commemorate centenary authors fiction concerning recreated events gate include fictional heroes attribute closing gate graham efforts guards graham gallantry remain celebrated regiment december mess commemorate graham bravery ceremonial game hanging brick brick stone barracks hung mess honour regimental colours retained regiment graham gallantry medal regiment named new accommodation block plaque building inscribed words memory sergeant james graham 2nd battalion guards man england following actions closing gates farm june
James Graham (British Army soldier)