William Graham

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 held in the hall.

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

DS Graham caught up with him and a struggle ensued. Both fell to the ground and 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 where, about 5:00am, William got out of bed, 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 he was posted to the Anti-Crime Squad, based in Hamilton.