As a young man, he was noted for his strong and imposing stature, reaching a height of 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) – a quality ultimately remarked upon throughout his career – as well as a reserved but kind disposition and a fondness for boating on the Medway.

Notably, Charles George Gordon was in command of the same column's reserves - a former peer of Graham's at the Royal Academy and subsequent close friend and colleague through later campaigns in China and the Sudan.

[3][4] Commencing their offensive after dawn, the Number 1 column became pinned down by heavy Russian fire as it endeavoured to close on the right flank of the Redan across approximately 400 yards of open, level ground.

[5]Graham carried Tylden to the rear before returning to the action but after numerous attempts to move forward and suffering severe casualties, the column retired to their advance trench.

At this point, Graham and sapper John Perie gallantly scaled the parapet and returned to the field under withering grape and musket fire to retrieve wounded comrades.

[6] The citation for Graham's VC, published in the London Gazette, noted his "Devoted heroism in sallying out of the trenches on numerous occasions, and bringing in wounded officers and men.

"[7] For his actions in the Crimea Graham was awarded the Victoria Cross, twice mentioned in dispatches, made a Knight of the French Legion d'honneur, received the 5th Class of the Order of the Medjidie, and promoted to Brevet Major.

[10] He published a number of scientific papers and a contribution to the Fortnightly Review, entitled "Last Words with Gordon" (1887), and prepared a translation of Goetze's Operations of the German Engineers and Technical Troops during the Franco-German War of 1870–71 (1875).