Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Michael Joseph Thomas Walsh was born, he stated, on 27 October 1893 at Kerrytown, Levels, near Timaru, the eldest son of James and Annie (née Hoare) Walsh. His birth was registered, however, as on 12 January 1893, but he was baptised Roman Catholic on 26 October 1892 at Temuka. His birthdate was recorded as 27 October 1892 in the school admission records. It is assumed, therefore, that he was born on 26 October 1892 or shortly before. Perhaps the date was ‘adjusted’ to disguise for a late registration. James Walsh, senior, who was from County Cork, Ireland, and Annie Hoare, who was born at Kerrytown, New Zealand, of Irish parents, were married in 1891 at Pleasant Point and went on to have fourteen children. In June 1904, Michael and his brother James, as well as other siblings, transferred to Gleniti School from the Kerrytown School, their parents having moved to Wai-iti (Gleniti) from Kerrytown. Michael went off to the Catholic School Timaru in the middle term of 1905 before returning to Gleniti. The younger children started at Kerrytown School or Gleniti School then went on variously to the Catholic School Timaru or the Marist Brothers School Timaru and Orari Gorge (Tripp) School (May 1910). In July 1905, the truant officer for the South Canterbury education district sued two parents for neglecting to send children (two in each case) to the school regularly as required by law. In the case of James Walsh, a fine of 2 shillings for each child was imposed. The four youngest Walsh children started at Orari Gorge School and left for Christchurch in December 1915. Mr and Mrs Walsh moved from Gleniti to the Tripp Settlement in 1910, Mr Walsh taking on farming. James Walsh had won a section of land in the Tripp Settlement ballot.

A sale of horses, harness, waggons, drays, seed sowers, etc., on account of Mr Jas. Walsh, at his farm, Levels Plains, on 29 September 1893. The sale was an unreserved one, Mr Walsh having given up contracting. Then in mid-1894, James Walsh, a contractor of Levels Plains, got into financial difficulties, owing a great deal to creditors. He had a lease on 50 acres and had also taken up a house and 10 acres at Kerrytown. He attributed his difficulties to bad crops. “Had lost about £100 on the 50 acres in 1892; three horses had died whose value he estimated at £40, and he had losses in dealing.” He was allowed time to make an offer to his creditors. Mr James Walsh appears to have been an eloquent speaker. In November 1905, he proposed the vote of thanks to Mr Hall-Jones when he spoke on his political campaign at Gleniti. The meeting of the Trinity Debating and Social Society was held in the Gleniti Schoolroom on 5 July 1907, when a considerable number of members congregated to listen to the debate on “Home Rule for Ireland”. “The leader for the affirmative, Mr J. Walsh, very suitably and enthusiastically presented an excellent argument in favour of Home Rule. . . . . . An animated discussion, creating exceptional interest, ensued, most of the members present participating (frequently indulging in extraordinary flights of oratory). The chairman put the subject to the meeting, the vote resulting in a win for the negative, by the casting vote of the chairman.” In 1908 Mr J. Walsh was elected to the Gleniti School committee.

On moving to the Tripp Settlement, Mr Walsh had some of his contract tenders accepted by the Geraldine Road Board and the Levels County Council, especially as his prices were often the lowest. A clearing sale on behalf of Mr James Walsh, Tripp Settlement was to have been held at the beginning of May 1914 but was postponed until 12 May. At the November 1914 meeting of the Geraldine Road Board, “Mr Jas. Walsh, Orari Gorge, waited on the Board complaining of an excessive charge for horse feed supplied to four draught horses impounded by the Board’s pound-keeper. He said that a change of 2/6 per horse for a feed was exorbitant. The horses he alleged, were taken off the road at 3 a.m. and fed at 5 a.m., when they were not in need of it. The pound-keeper had practically taken the horses away from a feeder. He was sowing patriotic wheat at the time, and had no place to put his horses except bn the road. . . . . . The chairman said the Board made no exception of any ratepayer. Complaints had been received from all over the district, in regard to stray cattle and horses on roads, . . . . . Mr Walsh had not been singled out, and the feed charge made by the pound-keeper if not according to the schedule would be refunded. . . . . . Mr Walsh said he objected to the pound-keeper ‘scouting’ in the night for horses. The chairman said that the pound-keeper had to do some scheming to abate the nuisance. He found that unless he got out pretty early the owners of stray cattle and horses were there before him. The clerk said the pound-keeper could carry out his duties at any hour day or night. The clerk was instructed to make enquiries regarding the charger made by the pound-keeper for horse feed.”

Tragedy struck the Walsh family in 1915. Annie Walsh – wife of James Walsh and second daughter of the late Richard Hoare, Kerrytown - died at her Woodbury residence on 26 January 1915. At the beginning of February, James Walsh, Tripp Settlement, posted a notice – “I wish to sincerely thank Dr Paterson and all the kind friends who helped to alleviate my trouble in my recent sad bereavement.” At this time the children of Annie and James ranged in age from 23 years to 6 months in age. Then on 27 April 1915, James Walsh died after a very brief illness, his funeral leaving the Tripp Settlement for the Geraldine Catholic Church, thence for the Geraldine Cemetery. A post-mortem examination showed that death was due to septic peritonitis. Both died intestate. Only three of the family had reached adulthood – Mary Theresa Josephine (spinster), Michael Joseph Thomas (labourer) and James Raymond (labourer), all of Woodbury. William Dodds Fitzgerald, a long-time Kerrytown acquaintance, went surety for them as they sought administration of their father’s estate, which was given on 7 June 1915, on the grounds that the estate was small and was not liable to the payment of Death Duty. They stated that their father left surviving the following children – themselves; sons – Richard Augustine (17 years, labourer, Woodbury), Leo Redmond (15 years, labourer, Woodbury), Denis Patrick (14 years, labourer, Woodbury), Peter John (8 years, student, Woodbury), Francis Joseph (7 years, student, Woodbury); daughters – Margaret Gertrude (19 years, spinster, Woodbury), Monica Josephine (12 years, student, Woodbury), Agnes Julia (11 years, student, Woodbury), Amelia Josephine (9 years, student, Woodbury), Annie Catherine Madeline (10 months, Woodbury). William Dodds Fitzgerald also went surety for the same three eldest children, the only ones to have attained the age of twenty-one, as they sought administration of their mother’s estate. On 7 June 1915, it was ordered that letters of administration of the estate of Annie Walsh be granted to Mary Theresa Josephine Walsh, Michael Joseph Thomas Walsh and James Raymond Walsh. The surviving children of their mother were, naturally, the same as for their father; and their father had died after their mother but before June 1915. But on 19 June 1925, an order was made with reference to the administration of the estate of Annie Walsh – “Michael Joseph Thomas Walsh is hereby removed from the office of administrator of the estate of Annie Walsh.” James Raymond Walsh, labourer, and Mary Theresa Josephine Walsh, spinster, both formerly of Woodbury but then of Timaru, had petitioned the Court with regard to the administration their mother’s estate. The estate had not been valuable, consisting of a small parcel of land and an even smaller lot with a “cottage very much out of repair” in Timaru, with an undischarged mortgage. The land had been sold by Michael but with a condition that now required a transfer to the purchaser. Michael Joseph Thomas Walsh had left New Zealand for America about April 1922, “but to what part thereof we do not know and we have not heard from him since and do not know where he is now.” James and Mary were anxious to complete administration.

At Geraldine on 11 February 1913, both M. J. T. Walsh and J. R. Walsh, and a number of other young men, were charged with failing to render personal service under the Defence Act. In several cases the defendant resided at a distance and His Worship decided to adjourn each case till the 3 June, to enable each defendant to make up in camp for the required number of parades.

Michael Joseph Thomas Walsh was medically examined on 1 February 1916 at Timaru. He stood at 6 feet, weighed 157 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 33-35½ inches, a dark complexion dark, brown eyes and black hair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all both good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal. He was free from diseases, was vaccinated, and was in good bodily and mental health. He enlisted on 4 May 1916 at Trentham, and he belonged to the 8th South Canterbury Mounted Rifles. A farm hand at Orari Gorge, single and Roman Catholic, Michael Walsh named his sister as next-of-kin – Miss M. Walsh, Woodbury, Geraldine, and later C/o Mrs P. Nolan, Levels, Timaru. This was probably Mary Walsh, the oldest of the family, and Mrs P. Nolan was his mother’s sister, Catherine née Hoare.

Walsh was one of three recruits present when “there was a numerous and representative gathering at Geraldine for the purpose of taking leave of this month’s local contingent for the 16th Reinforcements” on 2 May 1916. “After the loyal toasts, the chairman proposed the health of the men who were leaving and expressed confidence that they would act up to the best traditions of the British Army, and on behalf of the Home and Empire League presented each man with a parcel of underclothing”, each of the men suitably responding. Following the toast of the returned soldiers and other toasts, songs and recitations were contributed, and the gathering broke up after the singing of Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem. The next morning the departing soldiers were cheered as they were motored off from the Post Office, Geraldine. Joining the Temuka district men, they left by the 2 p.m. train. Led by the Temuka Brass and Pipe Bands, the men marched through King and Wood Streets and Railway Terrace to the railway station. The school children and a very large number of townspeople took part in the procession. At the station addresses were delivered, then the recruits were enthusiastically cheered as they boarded the train.

Rifleman M. J. T. Walsh embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade of the 7th Reinforcements, departing from Dunedin on 20 August 1916 (and from Wellington on 21 August) per the “Mokoia” and disembarking at Devonport on 25 October. Per Ships orders, he was appointed Troops cook for the voyage on 3 September 1916. Marching in at Sling on 25 October 1916, he was appointed to the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade a few days later, as cook. He proceeded overseas to France on 12 February 1917 and was appointed assistant cook on 24 March, relinquishing that appointment on 16 April. To segregation on 22 April 1917, he was attached to strength at the Base Depot on 18 May. He joined his Battalion and was posted to A Company on 3 June 1917. After being admitted to No. 3 New Zealand Field Ambulance, sick, on 5 August, he was admitted to 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, then to No. 1 Australian General Hospital at Rouen on 7 August, suffering from varicocele. Proceeding to Etaples on 9 August and marching in, he was attached to the New Zealand Infantry and General Base Depot (at Etaples, France) on 10 August. Joining his Battalion again on 28 August, he was posted to B Company.

Admitted to No. 6 Australian Ambulance and then No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station on 24 September 1917, he was admitted to No. 5 General Hospital at Rouen the next day. His was reported as a not severe case. Embarking for England per Hospital Ship “Panama” on 26 September, he was admitted to No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst on 27 September 1917 with a sprained ankle, then transferred to the Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch on 5 October. He had sustained a sprained ankle on 25 September while on fatigue. He was performing military duty and was not to blame. It was reported as “accidentally injured”. He left Hornchurch on leave on 22 November and was to report at Codford on 7 December. After being admitted to the 3rd New Zealand General Hospital at Codford on 9 January 1918 with varicocele, he was discharged to the Command Depot at Codford two days later and was taken on Strength. On 20 February he marched into the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (Reserve) Depot at Brocton. Having transferred from G Company to Details Company on 20 March, he was again appointed cook on 30 April 1918. It was not until 25 September 1918 that he relinquished the appointment as cook. On that day, he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Cannock Chase in the UK. The advice received by his sister, Miss M. Walsh, Levels, was that he was suffering from valvular heart disease. Transferred to the Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch on 1 October 1918, he left there on leave on 6 December and was to report at Codford. His complaint should read DAH – Disordered action of the heart. From Codford he went to Torquay at the end of December.

Walsh managed a few indiscretions while abroad. He forfeited 5 days’ pay and was awarded 168 hours detention for absence without leave from midnight 26 December 1916 to Reveille 31 December 1916. He was required to pay in November 1917 the sum of 6/9 being cost of railway warrant issued “on re-payment” for journey Listowel to Mallew (excess fare). Then in February 1918 he forfeited 2 days under Royal Warrant for being absent (with leave) while on Active Service. Michael Joseph Walsh married Mary Ethel Turner on 7 December 1918 at St Patrick’s Church, Stafford, Staffordshire, England. They were to have four surviving children. Their first child – James William Raymond Walsh, known as Jim – was born on 13 December 1918 at Stafford.

Michael Walsh returned to New Zealand per the “Athenic”, embarking at Liverpool on 3 February 1919 and arriving on 20 March 1919. His intended address was Levels, Timaru. M. J. T. Walsh was discharged on 18 April 1919, no longer physically fit for War Service (Cardiac Hypertrophy). On 1 October 1919, when his address was Orari Gorge via Geraldine, Michael J. T. Walsh applied for overseas war-service gratuity. He was then a cook at Orari Gorge. He had served from 16 August 1916 to 21 March 1919, with 5 days Royal Warrant deduction in December 1916 and 2 days in February 1918. When his medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal - were issued in 1921, he was at 97 St Asaph Street, Christchurch. As recorded above, the family left New Zealand in 1922. On 20 March 1923 at Merthyr Tydil, Wales, a second child was born – Gertrude Amelia Walsh, known as Amy. Back home in New Zealand, a stillborn child was born in 1926, then followed Eileen Margery Walsh on 12 May 1927 and Maurice Peter Walsh on 10 November 1930, and another stillborn child in 1931. In March 1927 Michael’s address was C/o Red Cross Club, Upper Sanatorium, Cashmere, Christchurch. Indeed, in 1928 Michael Walsh was a patient at the Cashmere Sanatorium.

Michael Joseph Thomas Walsh died on 5 January 1932 at Coronation Hospital, Christchurch, aged 39 years. His funeral left his late residence, 41 Seddon Street, Sydenham, for St Peter’s Catholic Church. After a Requiem Mass, he was buried in the RSA section of Bromley Cemetery, close to his brother James and where a services stone marks his grave. He had suffered from Pulmonary Tuberculosis for twelve years. On 16 April 1918 he had stated that he had already made a Will and that it was deposited with White Esqr, Solicitor, Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand. After Michael’s death, his widow lived on at their Christchurch address. Mary Ethel Walsh died at Christchurch on 24 July 1969, aged 82 years, and was buried at Ruru Lawn Cemetery. After a Requiem Mass at St Peter’s Catholic church. She was survived by their two sons, two daughters and grandchildren.

Michael’s brother, James Raymond Walsh, served in World War One, while his brother Richard Augustine Walsh attested but did not see any overseas service. Hugh Hoare, a cousin of the Walsh brothers’ mother, and Francis Joseph Nolan, their cousin, also served in World War One. A younger brother Denis Patrick Walsh may have served in World War Two. On 4 September 1916 at Timaru, D. P. Walsh, who had failed to put in a parade since August 24, was fined 5 shillings and 7 shillings 6 pence costs. The names of both Denis Patrick Walsh, Shirley, Christchurch, and Richard Augustine Walsh, Hanmer Springs, were drawn in the ballot of late 1942. Peter John Walsh had been drawn in a 1940 ballot. At his death in 1957, Denis Patrick Walsh was a war pensioner.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [21 November 2014]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5557 0118656) [20 December 2015]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [08 December 2015; June 2024]; Temuka Leader, 28 September 1893, 30 April 1914, 19 November 1914, Timaru Herald, 16 May 1894, 29 July 1905, 17 November 1905, 6 July 1907, 14 March 1910, 12 February 1913, 2 February 1915, 28 & 30 April 1915, 4 & 5 May 1916, 5 October 1918, 10 March 1919, NZ Tablet, 11 March 1915, 8 April 1915, Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1915, NZ Herald, 10 October 1917, Otago Daily Times, 8 March 1919, Press, 1 August 1919, 6 January 1932, 25 & 26 July 1969, Star, 5 & 6 January 1932 (Papers Past) [07 January 2015; 15 November 2015; 08 December 2015; 10 April 2022; 26, 27, 28 & 30 June 2024]; Roman Catholic Baptisms (Christchurch Diocese CD held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [December 2015]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [08 December 2015]; Bromley Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [20 December 2015]; Bromley Cemetery burial records (Christchurch City Council) [30 June 2015]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [20 December 2015; 26 June 2024]; SCRoll submission by T. Brosnahan, 5 November 2017; Probate records (Archives NZ/Family Search) [26 June 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record

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