William Walsh

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 12/12/2016 - 12:45

First Name:

William

Last Name:

Walsh

Father's Name:

Patrick Walsh

Date Enlisted:

Monday, August 17, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Lance Corporal

Unit:

2nd Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Wednesday, March 13, 1957

Place of Death:

Sydney

Cause of Death:

Illness

Details:

William Walsh (Service No 112) was born in Burnley, England around 1885.

At enlistment Willaim was single, 28 years old, worked as a stonemason and lived at Coledale, N.S.W. He had served 6 years with the Lancashire Fusilliers.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A23 Suffolk with A Company, 2nd Battalion on 18th October 1914.

William arrived in Egypt with the first contingent in December 1914 and landed on Gallipoli on 25th April. He was wounded in action on the 25th and evacuated for treatment, but returned to 2nd Battalion on 3rd May.

William served until he became ill and on 16th September 1915, and was eventually sent to England for treatment of enteric fever.

On 1st February 1916 William married Gertrude Gaynor in his home town of Burnley returning to his unit in France on 11th August 1916 as a married man.

On 12th October 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal and served on the Western Front until 26th June 1918 when he was wounded a second time. He was evacuated to England for treatment of a gun shot wound to his left shoulder.

His war was over as he was returned to Australia in November 1918 for Special 1914 Leave.

William was discharged from the AIF on 7th March 1919.

He died in 1957 after a long illness and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, WALSH WILLIAM