Sergeant Hugh Graham Montgomery (657862) served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Born in 1916, he was the only son of Hugh Campbell Montgomery, Assistant Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs, and Emilie Montgomery (née Graham) of 20 Shandon Park, Belfast.
Before the outbreak of the Second World War, Hugh attended Campbell College, Belfast. He then continued his education at Greenmount Agricultural College and Queen’s University Belfast. While studying, he was also a keen amateur motorcycle racer and won the Leinster Grand Prix in May 1939.
Wartime Service
In 1939, Montgomery joined an Anti-Aircraft regiment of the Royal Artillery. He saw action with the British Expeditionary Force in France, receiving shrapnel injuries during the Dunkirk evacuation. His love of motorcycling carried through to wartime and he was a despatch rider with the regiment.
At the end of 1941, his need for speed saw a transfer to the Royal Air Force. He gained his wings in October 1942 after completion of training in Rhodesia.
Hugh Graham Montgomery died on 13th August 1943 aged 28 years old. His grave is in Section F2, Grave 7 of Dundonald Cemetery, Dundonald, Co. Down.