Name
Douglas John Walsh (MC)
3 April 1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/08/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
1817
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Cross
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ADELAIDE (WEST TERRACE) CEMETERY
Road 1 North; Path 6; Site 35
Australia
Headstone Inscription
None shown
UK & Other Memorials
Digswell House Australian Hospital Memorial, St John's Church, Digswell
Pre War
Douglas John Walsh was born on 3 April 1884 at Wallaroo, South Australia, the son of John and Margaret Walsh. Prior to enlisting he worked as a shipping clerk and lived at Hamburg Hotel, Adelaide and was well known as a prominent footballer playing for Port Adelaide and Sturt.
He was a member of the Adelaide Repertory Theatre and a good singer in various concerts. His mother Margaret was named as next of kin, at Alexander Street, Wallaroo, South Australia.
Wartime Service
He had previously served with the Wallaroo Mounted Rifles and in the AIF Sergeant N Group and enlisted on 21 June 1915 at Keswick, South Australia as 2nd Lieutenant with the 27th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement. His unit embarked on 12 January 1916 from Port Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda and disembarked in Egypt, where they joined the 10th Battalion on Front Line Canal Defence on 28 February 1916. They left Alexandria on 27 March and arrived in Marseilles on 4 April. He transferred to the 10th Battalion in the field and was promoted to Lieutenant. He received a gun shot wound to his scalp on 20 June 1916 and was sent to England for treatment on 23 June. Once recovered he re-joined the battalion at the front. On 3 January 1917 he was admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance with bronchitis, re-joining his unit on 27 January. He suffered a gun shot wound to the neck on 8 April 1917 and was sent to hospital in Rouen before being sent to England for treatment. Again he recovered and re-joined his unit on 25 May 1917.
He was awarded the Military Cross " For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Although wounded, he led his men forward in the most gallant manner, and succeeded in driving the enemy out of the trench."
On 27 July 1917 he was given a week's leave in Paris and 12 days special leave in the UK from 28 August 1917. He suffered severe bronchitis in the field on 18 March 1918 and was admitted to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station. He was placed on the regiment seconded list and sent to a convalescent home where he was classified B11 for 1 month and granted 3 weeks' sick leave in England. The Medical Board declared him unfit for service and he returned to Australia on 12 May.
He died of illness received through service: nephritis, an enlarged heart and bronchitis, at Keswick Military Hospital, South Australia on 12 August 1918, aged 34. He is buried with his parents at West Terrace Cemetery. Adelaide, South Australia.
Additional Information
His brother 2nd Lieutenant D'Arcy Stuart Walsh of the 43rd Battalion was killed in action by a bullet on 4 October 1917 at Zonnebeke, Belgium. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 27), Belgium.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
aif.adfa.edu.au, Virtual War Memorial Australia
