William Graham

Died

:

11 January 1964

Age

:

31

Rank

:

Detective Sergeant

Force

:

Lanarkshire Constabulary

Cause

:

Medical

Duty Status

:

Off Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Died of a heart attack just hours after being injured while pursuing two suspected car thieves.

On Friday 10th of January 1964, DS Graham was on duty with his colleagues when he was made aware that local officers had found a stolen car in Springhead Road, Allanton, near the Miners Welfare Hall.

He and his colleagues kept a watch on the stolen vehicle as it was thought that it had been used to bring patrons to the weekly dance in the Miners’ Welfare.

After the dance finished and the Hall was closing, two youths were seen approaching the car. The officers approached them, apprehending one but the other ran off, with officers giving chase.

DS Graham caught up with him and a struggle ensued with both falling to the ground when William dislocated his shoulder, in which he already had a recurring complaint.

After taking the arrested men to Bellshill police office, William received hospital treatment for his shoulder injury. Afterwards, he returned home to his police house in Bankhead Road, Rutherglen. About 5:00am, William got out of bed and collapsed and immediately died of a heart attack.

He was survived by his wife and their two children and he is buried at Carstairs Cemetery.

William joined Lanarkshire Constabulary in 1953 and was posted to Shotts. He was later appointed to the CID. In 1960 he was transferred to the Regional Crime Squad based in Glasgow, which covered the West and Central Scotland. In December 1963 William was promoted to Detective Sergeant and returned to Lanarkshire Constabulary where was posted to the Lanarkshire Anti-Crime Squad, based in Hamilton.