Ranald Graham

Ranald Ian Mackenzie Graham (3 January 1941 – 29 August 2010) was a Scottish writer, director and producer, best known for his writing work on the British television series The Sweeney, The Professionals and Dempsey and Makepeace.

Graham was born in Sandakan, North Borneo (now Sabah) on 3 January 1941 to Scottish parents. Just over a year later, on 19 January 1942, the Japanese landed at Sandakan as part of the invasion of Borneo that had commenced on 16 December 1941 when the Japanese took Miri and Seria in Sarawak. For the first few months the European civilians were interned in various private houses in Sandakan; in May 1942 they were transferred to the prison camp on Berhala Island in Sandakan Harbour. Here Graham, his older sister Sheena and their mother were separated from their father. After eight months, the women and children were sent from Berhala Island to Batu Lintang camp in Kuching, Sarawak arriving at the camp after a nine-day difficult sea journey on 21 January 1943. Graham's father arrived in Kuching some six weeks later. Batu Lintang was to be Graham's home for the next two years and nine months.

One of the female internees at Batu Lintang, Hilda Bates, recorded her thoughts about Graham in her account of her internment:

My favourite [of the 35 children in the camp] was Ronald [sic]; a tough three-year old, and quite the naughtiest child in the camp! He possessed an angelic face, wavy golden hair, large blue eyes with long lashes, and an attractive Scottish accent. This little wretch often escaped punishment for his crimes, simply because of his appearance, and the artless gaze of his big blue eyes when being pulled up! When his mother was ill, Ronald was left in my care, and whenever he became too naughty, I would say "Now, bend over, Ronald!" As I then produced a small cane, prepared to whack him, he would turn his head and give me such an appealing look, saying: “Oh Batesie, you wouldn't, would you?” And I would end by giving him just a tiny smack!

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