Name
William George Walsh
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/11/1914
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2574
London Regiment (London Scottish)
2nd/14th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HITCHIN CEMETERY
NE. 452.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
We know from the CWGC records we know that William George Walsh’s parents were William and Jane Cooper Walsh and that when he died he was 27. From his pension cards we know that his mother lived at Prospect Villa, Church Road, New Romsey, Kent. However, this was not sufficient to have full confidence in other records found. The pension card also mentions another soldier No. 3419 Cpl Fred M Walsh in the A.S.C. it seems reasonable to assume that he was William’s brother and that helps us research further, however it is not clear why Fred’s name appears as he does not appear to have died in the war, even though there is a later note opposite Fred’s record “x? died 13.2.17”.
Other information we can be reasonably sure of is that SDITGW records William as living in Cardiff when he enlisted in London.
Even with the above information it is proving difficult to establish William George Walsh’s background with 100% confidence.
A service record for a 9981 Frederick Mark Walsh has been found, he enlisted into 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in January 1911, when he was 18 years and 10 months and living in High Barnet, London, Middlesex. It records his mother as Jane Walsh, living at 58 Brookham Road, Fulham, and brothers William living in Plymouth and Harry living with Jane. So it certainly seems possible that he is the soldier mentioned on the pension card. Also on 15 May 1911 he was in the process of transferring to the Mechanical Transport of the Army Service Corps. At least some of this (mother, brother and A.S.C.) fits with the information we have from the pension card. However, Fred absented himself and was declared a deserter on 6 June 1911 and we have yet to find any service related to the Great War or the service number 3419.
Using the above and looking in the census the following seems to be correct:
William George Walsh was born in 1887 in Barnet and baptised in Christ Church, South Mimms, Middlesex on 24 April 1887. His parents were William and Jane Cooper Walsh.
In 1891 the family were living at 41 Bruce Road, South Mimms, Middlesex,. Present were both parents: William (36 – born South Mimms) and Jane (38 – born Scotland), with William (senior) working as a carman. Their children were: Rose (12), Annie (10), William (4) and Harry (2) – all born in South Mimms. A boarder Alfred Barnfield was also present. The parents, and brothers William and Harry etc. fit what we know.
In 1901 the family were living at Great Parade, Little Lane ?, New Romney, Kent. In this census William (senior) was working as a engineer. Jane is confirmed as from Scotland. The children fit what we have above albeit Harry is recorded as Henry and they have a new brother Frederick (9). So this also fits what we know of the family.
By 1911 many things have changed but we believe this to be the same family, and William’s family. His mother was a widow, a retired boarding housekeeper and living at 15 Caernarvon Road, Norwich with he married daughter Annie Jane and her husband Frederick Sherwood, with her daughter Rose. However we have not found William George in the 1911 census.
William George Walsh embodied on 31 August 1914, joining the 14th Bn. City of London Regiment (London Scottish) as Private 2574. He was living at 10 New Street, Cardiff, South Wales. It seems that he had already, or was, serving in the London Scottish, which could explain his absence from the above census. He was described as 28 years old, 5’ 11” tall with a chest measurement of 35” when fully expanded. His mother was recorded as Mrs Jane Walsh, 67 Pixmore Avenue, Letchworth Garden City, Herts.
Officially he was recorded as living in Cardiff when he enlisted in London.
Wartime Service
He held the Regimental Number 2574 and served in the 2/14th Battalion of the City of London (London Scottish) Regiment
His service was short and he died on 22 November of pneumonia in Hitchin Workhouse Infirmary and is buried in Hitchin Cemetery Grave Number N.E. 452.
Additional Information
Probate was obtained by Edwin Francis Andrew clerk on 17 February 1918, with the value of his effects £327 5s 1d. His home address was given as 10 New Street, Cardiff.
After his death £1 4s 0d pay owing was authorised to go to his executor Edwin Francis Andrew Esq. on 26 April 1915. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to him on 22 October 1919.
His pension cards record Jane Cooper Walsh as his mother and as his dependant, living at Prospect Villa, Church Road, New Romsey, Kent. It also records another soldier had died 3419 Fred M Walsh, A.S.C.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
