Private Mark Graham M.M.

Private Mark Graham, M.M., 21st Battalion, ( 2nd Tyneside Scottish ), Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action in France on 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and is buried in Ovillers Military Cemetery, nr. Albert, Somme, France. He had been born in Tweedmouth and had enlisted in Gateshead. On that fateful day he fell in the attack on La Boiselle where the Battalion suffered 578 casualties of whom 190 were killed. The first photograph shows member of the Tyneside Brigade beginning their attack at 7.30 a.m. in well ordered lines.