Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Military Service

Additional Information

Son of Graham Fox and Jane Weston, de Toronto, Ontario. During the First World War, Graham served with the York and Lancaster Regiment, regimental number 3781, and fought in France, Flanders and Belgium from 13 August 1915 to 4 October 1918. He became a reservist with this unit and served from 26 January 1919 to 27 August 1920. He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

While Graham Walford and his father were members of the crew of the SS Kafiristan, this cargo ship was torpedoed at 3:55 pm on 17 September 1939 by U-53 350 miles (563 km) west of Cape Clear, Ireland, position 50°16'N/16°55'W. At 4.14pm, the ship received its coup de grace and six sailors were killed. The father rescued his son who was trying to cling on to three overturned lifeboats because Walford couldn't swim. The survivors were rescued by the SS American Farmer, which landed them in New York on 24 September. Back in Canada, Walford enlisted on the Elisha Walker while his father joined the 48th Highlanders of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. Because of a bad set of teeth, he was discharged before trying his luck with the British Army.

Graham Walford fell overboard from the Elisha Walker and, unable to swim, drowned in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia.

Commemorated on Page 137 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.