Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Medic’ A7 to Alexandria 2.11.1914.
Roll Rank Sapper.
Roll Unit 13th Field Company Engineers.
Walsh disembarked at Suez with the 13th Field Engineers. After a period of intensive training, he entrained to Alexandria, joined the MEF 5.4.1915 and embarked for Gallipoli. He became sick at Anzac and was taken to hospital at Mena and Montazah. Walsh was then transferred by HS ‘Assay’ to Alexandria. He was hospitalized in Cairo with a debility 23.8.1915 - 23.9.1915. On recovery, he embarked from Alexandria per ‘Transylvania’ for Mudros 3.11.1915, where he was transferred to Gallipoli with his unit. Walsh was evacuated with troops from Anzac per ‘Caledonia’ for Alexandria 27.12.1915. He was promoted to T/ 2nd Cpl. in Serapeum 9.2.1916, to 2nd Cpl. 1.3.1916 and Cpl. 7.3.1916. Walsh joined the BEF in Alexandria and embarked per ‘Kingstonia’ for France 27.3.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 3.4.1916. Walsh was taken on strength with his unit in the field with the 3rd Bde. They took part in their first major battle on the Somme at Pozieres in July 1916. Walsh was wounded in action at Pozieres 22.7.1916 with a GSW to his right leg. He was transferred to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station and then to the 23rd General Hospital at Etaples 24.7.1916. Walsh was promoted to T/Sgt 28.8.1916. He joined the 1st Australian Division Base Depot (ADBD)16.8.1916. Walsh rejoined his unit in the field 27.8.1916 and was promoted to Sgt. 24.10.1916.  Walsh was attached for duty with the permanent cadre and Brightlingsea for 3months from 2.10.1917. On 30.1.1918, he embarked at Southampton for duty in France. He arrived at the Base in Rouelle the following day and was allocated to the 3rd Field Company Engineers 5.2.1918. He was taken on strength with this unit and spent his first few weeks in February constructing (for patients with scabies), renovating bath huts, erecting Nissan hust, Recreation Huts and fencing etc for the troops. (AWM Diary 3^rd Field Engineers). Walsh was diagnosed with scabies and was hospitalised 29.3.1918 and 8.5.1918.  The 3rd Bde fought at Hazebrouck, Amiens and the Hindenburg line in 1918. Walsh was absorbed on strength with the NCO’s from the Superanuary List and embarked for Australia via Taranto Italy.
Embarked Taranto per ‘Port Sydney’ A68 for Australia 8.10.1918.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 25.11.1918.
Discharged 23.1.1919.
Final Rank Sergeant. 3rd Field Coy Engineers. 3rd Bde.
Medical Condition Invalided.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Walsh was one of four brothers who served in WW1. George Lavell (SN 370), Sydney Patrick (SN 5936a) William Thomas died of wounds (SN 3948).
Photos Western Mail 24.4.1915 p1s,
             Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire. Facs. Ed. reproduced with permission of Hesperian Press 2014. p81
             HMAT 'Medic' 1914. Photographer Hood, Samuel J. Photograph source AWM H19319
             Landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25.4.1915. Photographer A. Joyner, photograph source AWM P00035.001
             Ruined gardens at Pozieres 1916. Official British War Photograph, photograph source AWM EZ0097

Information Source
'Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire 1914-18'. Palmer and Ashworth (1922) Facsimile Edition. Published by Hesperian Press, Victoria Park. WA 2014
AWM H19319 . HMAT 'Medic' 1914. Photographer Hood, Samuel J. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P00035.00. Landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25.4.1915. Photographer A. Joyner, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM EZ0097. Ruined gardens at Pozieres 1916. Official British War Photograph, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls Henry William Walsh
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Walsh H W
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
Western Mail
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

‘Kia Ora’ 5 Ethel Street, Guildford, WA.




 

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