Book - Ponder Anew - John Graham

 A Man’s Story

Born in 1923 John Graham served first in the Isle of Wight Home Guard then as a Private in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders before being commissioned in 1942. Wounded and later Mentioned in Despatches during the crossing of The Rhine he served in Palestine immediately after the war. In 1962, after being told he would not command The Argyll’s, he transferred to the Parachute Regiment and commanded 1 Para 1964-67.

In 1970, Graham was selected to become the Commander of the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces. He was instrumental in persuading the despotic Sultan Said bin Taimur to accept the coup and hand over to his son, the Sandhurst-educated Qaboos. This set Oman on a path of modernisation and growth. After working with Allied Forces in Central Europe he was promoted Major General and retired in 1978 as GOC Wales. Major General John Graham CB CBE died in Barbados in December 2022.

The book is a beautifully produced hardback of over 500 pages packed with both memories and observations gained during a long and distinguished career.