Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-07-29
CORP. GRAHAM BURIED
Soldier Lost His Life While Fighting
for Country In France.
he FORMERLY LIVED In YORKVILLE
Members Of Old Fort Mill Company of
Which He Was Member Were Hon
or Guard at Funeral-Services Held
from First Baptist Church by Amer
iran | enion

from First Baptist Church by Amer
ican Legion.
With members of the Fort Mill
| Company of the National Guard with
whom he served in the States and in
France, the captain of old Company G,
18th Infantry, 30th Division, the officer
death wound and others In attendance,
the body of Corporal Erwin Clark
Graham, Co. G, 11Sth Infantry, 30th
Division who was killed October 6,
1918 was inferred in American Legion
lot in Rose Hill cemetery, Yorkville,
Tuesday afternoon following funeral
services at the First Baptist church.
Rev. DR.. J. L. Oates, former clerk
of the Exemption Board for, the West
ern District Of York county read the
Scripture Lesson and conducted the
church burial service after which the
funeral was turned over to the Ameri-
can Legion, Jas. D.. Grist, post COM
mander, presiding.
Tribute From Soldier.
The funeral grafton was delivered
by Lieut.. Col. Thos. B. Spratt, for
merly second in command Of the regi-
ment of which the deceased. was a
member. The orator paid simple
but impressive tribute to the memory
of the fallen soldier, speaking of his
worth, both as a soldier and as man.
There were in the forces Of the United
States overseas and at home during
the World war; he said. many men of
brave and heroic mold who did not
distinguish themselves, by individual
heroic deeds simply because they new
er had the opportunity. They were
not only men Of bravery but men OF
Intelligence. 1t was because Of his in
telligence as we'll as his bravery that
Corporal Graham was selected for the
accommodating service in which he
lost his life.
After the address of Col. Spratt and
while the choir sang a final hymn, the
funeral procession filed out of the
church, first the firing squad, then the
casket draped with large United
States flag in Naccordance@with mill
tary regulations, then the pail bear
ers who were six members of Mech
Stewart Post of the American Legion
Then followed the family and after
then came members of Mech Stew
art Post and visiting American Legion
men who were followed by the general
public.
Arriving at the American Legion
plot where grave had been dug just
beside the grave of Private Meecf
Stewart, first soldier to be buried
there. brief commital service was
conducted by Rev. DR.. Oates. The
grave was covered with flowers and
the benediction was said. Sergt
James o. Hammond in charge Of the
firing squad from the Fort Mill mill
tary company gave the command anc
three volleys OF musketry. the military
salute for a dead soldier was fired
Bugler Thos. A. Hucks blew TAPS
and the service was at an end.
Killed by a Shell.
Corporal Erwin Clark Graham who
was. known to his comrades as RED
Graham because Of his reddish hall
and f1ord complexion, was killed ir
France October 6, 1918 while in q
truck with party Of officers and non
commissioned officers who had beer
instructed to select position for the
Fart Mill and other companies of the
11Sti. Infantry who had been ordered
closer to the Front. The order wa:
for sergeants to compose the detail
but because of the fact that sergeant!
were scarce through heavy casualtie:
among them, Graham who ranked a.
corporal, was instructed by his com
pany commander, Capt. Sam. w
Parks to substitute for sergeant.
A German shell came over on tn
American side Of he road and land
ing just very short distanc
away from the automobile truck
burst and killed O., wounded practi
cally every one of It's occupants
Among those comprising the detail
was Capt. Murray Mack OF Fort Mil
who had been gassel the day befor
and who was huddled in the bottom
, because he was sick A non commits
!, stoned officer was olding the cap
tain's head between bis legs and tn
shell got this non commissioned OF
|, fcer and also Corporal Graham VIII
S was sitting next to him, both of ther
being killed Instantly their bloc
trickling down on Capt. Mack who es
capped injury.
Well Known Here.
= Graham had spent most of his lit
, in Yorkvile and vicinity where h
y had been employed as IL textile work
e er. He enlisted with the Fort Mi
!, company for Mexican Border duty be
fore the outbreak of the World Wa
and his officers say that he had fin
: record as q soldier.
His body was buried in one. Of tn
British Military cemeteries In Franc
r after he fell, until disinterred for re
Il turn to America, 1t arrived at Hobok