William Wallace must be one of the most famous
names in Scottish history, but do you know who his best friend was? The Robin to his
Batman? You've probably passed through the train station named after him a hundred
times, without ever realising it was a tribute to a true Scottish hero, so let's change that today.
I'm Bruce Fummey. I lived in Falkirk for two years, in fact it was where I bought my first house.
I got on and off trains here at Falkirk Grahamston more times than I care to remember, but at the
time, I never realised that this station, or the Grahamston area behind me, with its main street,
Graham's Road, were all named in honour of one of Scotland's greatest, yet oft-forgotten, heroes.
If you're interested in the people, places and events in Scottish history, then click the
subscribe button at the bottom, right hand side of the screen. In the meantime, let me tell you a story.
The problem with forgotten heroes, is that nobody can remember them, so details are hard to find.
Today's hero might be elusive, but I think it's only right that I try to tell the story of Sir
John de Graham as best I can with thanks to David Reid of the Sir John de Graham Society.
What we do know, is that John de Graham of Dundaff grew up here at Dundaff Castle in the Carron Valley,
near Falkirk. Presumably it was around this area that he met William Wallace, when they were young.
Wallace had grown up with his priestly uncle in nearby Dunipace. You can just imagine them as
boys running around, riding their bikes, playing chicky melly (knocking a door and running away), letting off stink bombs in the Post
Office. Actually, I think that was me! Anyway, in 1296, Edward Longshanks had invaded Scotland, and
imposed English garrisons. Wallace hadn't long started his guerrilla campaign against them,
and late in the year, he found himself having to swim an icy River Forth, over in that direction
to avoid capture, and he arrived here at Dundaff Castle to seek refuge with his old boyhood pal.
That was the start of a close relationship as comrades in arms. A few days later, Wallace headed
off to Lanark for Christmas, but they were together again early in 1297, after the Christmas holidays.
I don't know what it is about Wallace and being chased across a Forth by Englishmen,
but de Graham came to his rescue again, this time arriving at Queensferry, with 30 men to
defeat English pursuers. In May came an event that's often cited as a key turning point in
Wallace's life, although in truth he was probably already well down an inevitable road by then.
The story goes, that as they were leaving church in Lanark one Sunday, William Heselrig, Edward
Longshanks' Sheriff insulted Wallace, and of course John de Graham was there.
A fight ensued between Wallace's band and the bigger English force. Wallace and de Graham were
helped by the fact that it took place in a narrow street, and then they managed to
escape through the house of a woman called Marion, who some people have reported as Wallace's wife.
Heselrig had her killed, and burned down her house, so naturally in revenge, Wallace came back
and killed the Sheriff. Now again there's debate about the detail. Did Wallace really kill the
Sheriff? Some claim it was Bob Marley, others say it was Eric Clapton! What we do know is, that whilst
it was going on, de Graham attacked and killed the garrison commander and his men, so contrary
to popular belief, we don't know who killed the Sheriff, but we do know who killed the deputy!
He was Scottish, and probably had dreadlocks and,
I've said too much.
William Wallace and John de Graham, with 300 men, went on to attack and defeat a thousand English
troops at the Battle of the Brae in Glasgow, and then in 1297, when Wallace and Andrew de
Moray brought their forces together to defeat the English at the famous Battle of Stirling Bridge,
John de Graham, was at his side. That winter, when Wallace invaded England, de Graham was there.
In 1298, Edward Longshanks of England had had enough. He invaded Scotland with a huge army.
Their problem would be, how to feed that army, and where were the Scots? You see the Scots avoided
a pitch battle, and burned everything behind them. This scorched earth policy left nothing for the
English army of forage, and with hungry English, Irish and Welsh troops fighting amongst themselves,
they were about to head back south empty-handed, as the Scots observed them from a close distance. Then
a fateful event. Now I've heard some say that they were betrayed.
I've heard others say that Wallace failed to heed de Graham's advice, and took battle.
I've heard other stories still. The result we know for certain, a pitch battle
here in Falkirk, and this monument in Callendar Park commemorates the event.
It's said, that a young lad preparing John de Graham for battle, prepared his armour incorrectly,
and left a gap at the waist, and what was a disastrous battle for Wallace, and for Scotland,
was a final battle for John de Graham who died, of course, fighting side by side with Wallace.
Now they say that the Fortingall Yew Tree in Perthshire, is the oldest in the world, and it
was around at the time of Christ. This one here, in Dollar Park in Falkirk, is reputed to be
where John de Graham was laid in his death, and where Wallace returned after the battle.
The epic poem, 'The Wallace' by Blind Harry, tells how under this tree, Wallace wept and grieved
for his comrade in arms, his dearest brother and his friend.
Wallace himself carried his friend to Falkirk for burial,
and when I say Falkirk, I mean here. There's been a church here since the 7th Century.
It's what gives the town its name, Faw Kirk, 'the speckled church'. Eaglais Bhreac in Gaelic,
and here in these grounds, we find the tomb of one of the great Scottish heroes, Sir John de Graham.
Here lyes Sir John the Grame, baith wight and wise, Ane of the chiefs who rescewit Scotland thrise,
Ane better knight not to the world was lent, Nor was gude Graham of truth and hardiment.
Much of what we know about Wallace and de Graham comes from a poem,
written 200 years later by a guy called Blind Harry, so obviously
don't say it, don't say it, don't say it ... he wasn't an eyewitness ... there will be complaints!
Of course Wallace faced his own brutal death seven years later, and he has his monument just outside
Stirling, commemorating the glorious victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, but let's not forget
that there were other Scottish heroes at Stirling Bridge, one of them was Sir John de Graham, another was
Andrew de Moray, and if you want to hear the story of that true patriot of Scotland then
you can watch my video about him here. Tha mi an dochas gum bith lath math leibh. Tiorridh an drasda.