Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

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Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Arthur Edward Walsh was the younger son of James and Emily (née McAlpine) Walsh. Young Arthur who was born about 1887 at Rochdale, Lancashire, England, was at home with his parents and siblings in 1891 and again in 1901 when he was working in a carpet department. His English father James was a silk dresser; his mother was born in Ireland. Their first three children were born in Yorkshire, while Arthur and his younger sister were born at Rochdale. He appears to be the Arthur Walsh whose birth was registered in 1887 (October-December) at Bury, Lancashire. (His sister Emily’s birth was registered at Bury in 1890.) In 1911, James and Emily are home alone. Their eldest daughter Mary married in 1907 in England. Their second daughter Clara married James Lillico in 1909 in New Zealand; Clara and James had two children – James Walsh Lillico and Joan Wilson Lillico, born in 1909 and 1911 respectively, and both baptized at St Mary’s, Timaru in 1915 (Emily Walsh Webb one of the sponsors). Emily Walsh married Charles Adam Webb in 1914 at Chalmers Church, Timaru. Perhaps Clara, Arthur and Emily came to New Zealand prior to 1909. Indeed, Arthur Walsh appears to have been in strife with the police in New Zealand as early as 1910. “Christchurch. —lst instant, that he may be served with summonses for wilful damage, refusing to quit licensed premises, and assault, Arthur Welsh [sic], age twenty-two, height 5 ft. 6 in., hotel porter, native of England, medium build, fresh complexion, brown hair, blue eyes, clean-shaved.” [New Zealand Police Gazette, 11 May 1910.] On 5 Oct 1915 at the Wellington Magistrate’s Court, Arthur Walsh – native of Australia [sic], steward, born 1887, 5 feet 5 inches, fresh complexion, brown hair, blue eyes, medium nose; (marks) eagle on right forearm, anchor on left forearm – was tried for breach of the peace and fined £1. Then, on 28 May 1916 at the Auckland Magistrate’s Court, Arthur Walsh – native of Australia [sic], steward, born 1889, 5 feet 6 inches, fresh complexion, dark brown hair, grey eyes, medium nose; (marks) rose, thistle, shamrock, LOVE FLO, eagle and snake on right arm, anchor on left forearm; strong build – was tried for threatening behaviour and fined 10 shillings.

Forward to 1915/1916 – Arthur Walsh, a steward, handed in his medical papers at No. 5 Group office, Buckle Street, Wellington, on 21 October 1915, and signalled his preference for the Infantry. Arthur Walsh, seaman, care of G.P.O., Wellington, was listed on the Reserve Rolls in 1916. Arthur E. Walsh, seaman, Seamen’s Institute, Wellington, is called up in 1917. Then Arthur Edward Walsh enlisted on 23 July 1917 at Wellington, this being the first instance found of the full name (Arthur Edward Walsh). He stated that he was born on 10 January 1885 at Timaru – why? He was a steward for the Union Steam Ship Company and gave his address as 35 Boulcott Street, Wellington. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs E. Walsh, 14 Latter Street, Timaru. He correctly names his parents as James Walsh and Emily Walsh, although he attributes Belfast, Ireland as the birthplace of both. It was initially recorded that two persons (Mother & Father) were absolutely dependent on him, but this was crossed out. But he said he had been 32 years in New Zealand (life) and his parents 40 years, whereas they (parents) were quite recent arrivals. There was no other indication of Catholicism in the family. Arthur Edward Walsh was medically examined on 23 July 1917. He was 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighed 153 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35¼-38 inches. His complexion was ruddy, his eyes blue, and his hair fair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. Free from illnesses and diseases, vaccinated and in good bodily and mental health, he was classified Fit A. No fits. He had a tattoo marks – a thistle on his right upper arm and dragon and eagle on his right forearm. The dental examination carried out on 23 July 1917 showed that the recruit required some fillings. A. E. Walsh was with men from No. 5 Group (Wellington City and Suburbs) who went into camp for the 32nd Reinforcements at the end of July 1917.

Rifleman A. E. Walsh embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, leaving from Wellington per the “Tahiti” on 16 November 1917 and disembarking at Liverpool, England on 7 January 1918. Marching in at Brocton, he was posted to the NZ Rifle Brigade on 15 January 1918. Soon after – on 18 February – he forfeited pay for being absent without leave. On 20 March 1918, he proceeded overseas and, marching in at Abeele, he was posted to his Battalion on 27 March. He rejoined his Battalion a week after being admitted to hospital (Field Ambulance) on 22 April 1918. Walsh was sentenced to Imprisonment with hard labour by Field General Court Martial on 30 July 1918 for Insubordination. . . . . . As of 23 August, he was attached to No. 1 Military Prison (in France), then transferred to other prisons. He was released from No. 3 Military Prison on 13 December 1918, the remainder of his sentence being remitted from the date of entraining for unit at the Font. It was 24 December 1918 when he rejoined his Battalion.

Taken sick on 30 December 1918, he was admitted to No. 3 New Zealand Field Ambulance, with diarrhoea, the next day. Discharged to his Unit, he rejoined his Battalion on 3 January 1919. But on 15 January 1919 he was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeited 1 day’s pay. After going on leave to the UK on 25 January 1919, he was retained there and was to report to Brocton on 16 February. Marching out from Brocton on 18 June 1919, Walsh was to report to Sling on 14 July. The medical examination conducted at Sling on 16 July 1919 revealed no abnormalities, impairment or disabilities. There was no change as of 20 September on the returning transport. A. E. Walsh, 61850, of Timaru, returned to New Zealand by the “Cordoba” (Draft 278) which left the United Kingdom (London) on 18 July and was expected at Wellington, initially, on 30 August 1919. A wireless message received from the “Cordoba” about 24 September stated that the approximate date of the vessel’s arrival at Wellington was 30 September. The message of 29/30 September was that she would arrive at Wellington on the morning of Wednesday, 1 October, and so she did, bringing not only troops but welcome mails from the United Kingdom (London, Glasgow and Liverpool). Yes, the draft had been due on 30 October but had been frequently delayed on her way and was ten weeks on the voyage. Even her arrival was not without incident – “The Cordoba arrived in the stream at 9 o’clock this morning and anchored in Kaiwara Bight. A strong gale was blowing, and she immediately started to drag her anchor, and as the strength of the wind increased she soon commenced to make rapid progress towards Evans Bay. The authorities were alarmed, and at once berthed her near Queen’s Wharf, where medical inspection was carried out. She was passed as a clean ship, and the men landed. The Cordoba was ten weeks on the voyage, coming via Capetown. On September 27, Pte. J. S. Williamson, Otago, was lost at sea. Eight men also failed to join the ship at ports of call.” Some of the men call their trip out a ”cruise”, while other likened the “Cordoba” to a dead whale which could float but could not go very fast. The vessel which left Leith on 14 July and Tilbury two days later, came via Capetown. The men were treated well by the residents of Durban during a six-day stay to take on coal and stores. They were also shown hospitality by the West Australians during there stopover at Fremantle. The troops behaved themselves admirably during the lengthy voyage, though eight failed to rejoin the ship at ports of call. A special train brought the men south from Christchurch on 2 October, after they had crossed over on a ferry boat “Manuka”. Arthur Walsh’s intended address was Timaru, where his parents were living. A dental examination on 20 September had shown that he was not suffering from any dental disability traceable to Active Service and so no treatment was required.

He was discharged on 30 October 1919, on the termination of his term of engagement, and awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Arthur Edward Walsh gave his address as 84 Sefton Street, Timaru on 6 October 1919 when he applied for Overseas War-Service Gratuity. The deductions for offences reduced his gratuity considerably. Arthur Edward Walsh (born 1884, Timaru; 109 Wilson Street, Timaru), N.Z. Roll, was issued the Mercantile Marine Medal on 26 April 1923 (as recorded by the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen). The only ‘sightings’ of Arthur Edward Walsh in New Zealand after the war were an electoral roll entry for 42 Boulcott Street, Wellington (seaman) in 1919 and an appearance at the Napier Police Court on 9 December 1919. He was convicted and fined £5 on a charge of assault, striking a woman in the face. Pleading guilty, he said that he did not remember the circumstances.

Arthur Walsh died on 9 February 1940, aged 52 years. This we know from his father’s headstone at the Timaru Cemetery, the inscriptions for Arthur and his mother being memorials only. Where he died has not been ascertained. The stone is beautifully and precisely inscribed. Who had it erected? When? Presumably after Emily’s death in 1944. James Walsh, a silk dresser, died at his Timaru residence on 27 March 1934, aged 80 years, and was buried privately at Timaru Cemetery. As he died intestate, his estate was administered by the Public Trustee. After James’ death, a clearing sale of household furniture (living room, hall, bedrooms, kitchen; outdoor equipment and tools) was held at 62 Wilson Street, Timaru. Emily returned to England. In 1939 she was back home at Rochdale, Lancashire, with her eldest daughter, also a widow (Mary Waller). Emily Walsh who died at Rochdale on 14 December 1944, aged 85 years, is remembered on her husband’s headstone at Timaru.

As mentioned above, Clara Walsh, the second daughter of James and Emily and sister of Arthur, had married James Hall Lillico in 1909 in New Zealand. This was he third marriage of James Lillico who was much older than Clara. Well-known and highly respected, James Hall Lillico died very suddenly on 20 August 1921 while visiting his small holding at Geraldine, and was buried at Timaru. Clara (Walsh) Lillico, too, moved back to England where she died in 1971 and her daughter in 2001. Her son, Captain James Walsh Lillico, whose engagement was announced in the Timaru Herald on 4 February 1938, died about 18 October 1942 at the Indian General Hospital in Singapore, while a prisoner of war in Japanese hands. Arthur’s older brother, Frederick (Fred) Walsh, who was born on 1 January 1886, enlisted with the Canadian Forces on 14 August 1915. He, too, named his mother as next-of-kin – Emily Walsh, 8 Casson Gate, Rochdale, Lancs, England. His next-of-kin was later (as of July 1916) amended to Mrs Mary Waller, Rochdale, England, this being his oldest sister, Mary. Fred’s physical description was very similar to that of Arthur. Emily Walsh, who was born in 1890 at Rochdale, England, was the youngest of the family of James and Emily. She married Charles Adam Webb on 23 December 1914 in the dwelling house of Mr Lillico, Latter Street, Timaru. They lived for a few years at St Andrews before moving to the North Island where Charles was a stock buyer. Emily died in 1964 at Palmerston North and Charles in 1969. Perhaps Emily and Charles had the family headstone placed at Timaru Cemetery.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [07 October 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5557 0118569) [11 October 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5562 0134550) [11 October 2017]; NZ Expeditionary Force Nominal Roll; 1891, 1901 & 1911 England census returns (ancestry.com.au) [07 October 2017; 20 April 2020]; Free BDM [2017]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [08 October 2017]; Medal Card (National Archives UK Discovery – reference BT 351/1/145902) [07 October 2017; 06 July 2024]; Evening Post, 22 October 1915, 4 August 1917, 1 October 1919, Dominion, 15 July 1919, 12 August 1919, 25 September 1919, Star, 12 August 1919, 2 October 1919, NZ Times, 12 August 1919, Lyttelton Times, 12 August 1918, Ashburton Guardian, 25 & 30 September 1919, Hawke’s Bay Tribune, 25 September 1919, Press, 25 September 1919, 1 October 1919, Mataura Ensign, 27 September 1919, Auckland Star, 1 October 1919, Hastings Standard, 10 December 1919, Timaru Herald, 22 August 1921, 7 & 14 April 1934, 4 February 1938, Temuka Leader, 23 August 1921 (Papers Past) [07 & 08 October 2017; 07 August 2021; 06 & 10 July 2024]; Timaru Herald, 28 & 29 March 1934 [11 October 2017]; Chalmers Church marriage record [October 2017]; New Zealand Police Gazette, 11 May 1910, 18 December 1919 (per ancestry.com.au) [20 April 2020]; New Zealand Police Gazette, 20 October 1915, 7 June 1916 (Papers Past) [07 July 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record

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