Sylvester Graham

Memorial: South Gloucestershire war dead not on a local memorial

Regiment: Royal Armoured Corps

Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945

Rank and number: Trooper 7893049

Parents: Robert and Mary Graham

Home address: 5 New Road, Filton, Bristol

Date of birth: 09/07/1918

Place of birth: Warwickshire

Date of death: 21/05/1940

Buried/Commemorated at: No known burial site. Commemorated at Dunkirk Memorial, Nord, France. Not commemorated on a local memorial

Age: 21

Further information:

Sylvester was born in Warwickshire, the son of an engineer fitter and the youngest of three brothers.

Sylvester went over to France with his regiment (4th Royal Tank Regiment) as part of the British Expeditionary Force and was killed in action fighting against an elite German Panzer Division South of Arras. The 4th Royal Tank Regiment was heavily outnumbered and outclassed and the engagement was disorganised due to poor communication. This combination of circumstances resulted in massive casualties including Sylvester as well as his Commanding Officer. Sylvester was initially listed as missing and after five years his record status was changed to presumed died of wounds but his body was never found. The Dunkirk Memorial where he is remembered commemorates those of the British Expeditionary Force who died or were captured at Dunkirk and who have no known grave.

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
http://www.4and7royaltankregiment.com/1940-1941/