Eric Montrose Graham was born in the Andaman Islands on the 3rd of August 1893, the second son of Colonel Stuart Bruce Graham, Indian Army, and Elizabeth "Lizzie" (née Gordon) Graham of 10 Palace Green, Kensington.

He attended Shrewsbury House Preparatory School where he was part of the team which won the St David Shield in 1908 with a score of 570 out of a possible 600 points. He then went on to Abingdon School in Berkshire.

When war started, he joined the 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers in France on the 10th of October 1914. He was badly wounded on the 31st of October, 1914. According to Battalion history, "he was hit in the head about midday and mortally wounded." It is said that he was engaged in sniping at the time. It is also thought that he did not die of his wounds immediately; he was brought back to England where he died later. He is buried at Kensal Green (All Souls') Cemetery.