T/Major (W/Capt) 140471.
Alexander Murray GRAHAM.,  R.A

Action for which commended : -

Major Graham has commanded an Observation Battery since landing in June 1944 until the end of the campaign in NW Europe. His battery has been involved in a record number of major battles during so short a period. - notably in the Bridgehead and the Break-out, S'Hertogenbosch, Weert to Venlo, the Roer pocket, the Rhine crossing, and finally the pursuit from the Rhine. Major Graham, with steadfast courage, and often great gallantry, led the reconnaissance and deployment of his command throughout. The results of his leadership and initiative was borne out in the quite exceptional number of deployments which he carried out in a matter of ten months - some thirty six main Sound Ranging   bases and one hundred and twenty Flash Spotting OPs,  recording a total of over 2500 locations of enemy gun positions.

A great many of these deployments were forced through under heavy fire, and Major Graham's reconnaissance's frequently took him over ground neither cleared nor even visited by any other troops. Two examples of cool headed gallantry on the part of this officer are cited.

In the Oden Valley, South of Caen, SRg cable communications was rendered virtually impossible owing to the intensity of  fire on the line routes. It was essential to maintain the SRg base in its forward position where it was sited with the special task of locating certain mortars. Major Graham stayed out on the line routes and quietly set about solving the problem while the lines were being shelled and mortared continually around him. He found the solution - a farm plough to plough in the vulnerable portion of the line. The lines were thereby rendered sufficiently safe and the  mortars located and driven back to the limit of their range.

Before the Blerwick operation, when there was desperate urgency to locate the guns of the Seigfried Line, Major Graham's subordinates were definitely flagging  after a series of battle deployments and mine casualties. A key line route was believed to be heavily mined. Major Graham verified this personally, and since there was no time or personnel to clear the track, he reconnoitred a  successful parallel route between the minefields although strongly advised by local troops not to try and do so.

Recommended by :-
Lt. Col H.H.B Clegg Comd. 7^th Survey Regt R.A.