Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Vivian Henry Walsh (known to his family as "Viv") was born on 12 June 1896 in Woollahra, Sydney and baptised at St Saviour Church Redfern, Sydney on 28 November the same year.  He was the 5th child of Charles Walsh and his wife Ellen Susanna née Stock.  Viv's father was of Irish Catholic descent and his mother of English Protestant descent.  He had brown hair and brown eyes.

The family lived at 25 Mill Hill Road, Waverley and there they enjoyed a warm, close and happy life.  Viv had 10 brothers and sisters:  Grace b.1889, Charles b.1890, Elsie b.1892, May b.1895, Herbert b.1898, Sydney b.1901, William b.1904, Nellie b.1906, Marian b.1908 and John b.1910.

Viv attended Waverley Public School.  In 1911 he joined the Royal Navy Reserves and completed 4 years of service.  On 2 September 1915 he enlisted with the Australian Imperial Forces and was appointed to A Company 7th Battalion at Holsworthy, Sydney for training.  On 22 November 1915 after the completion of his training he was attached to 12th Reinforcements 3rd Battalion at Liverpool, Sydney.

Viv embarked on HMAT A7 Medic on 30 December 1915.  On 7 January 1916 the 3rd Battalion left Australia for war in Europe.

Viv soon found himself in France on the Western Front.  In April 1916 he was admitted to hospital with an eye condition brought on by poor nutrition.  He was soon discharged but admitted to hospital again in July after being shot in the shoulder at Pozières.  A week later he was transferred to London to recuperate.  Fully recovered he returned to France in November to rejoin his battalion.  In January 1917 he was hospitalised with appendicitis.  In February he returned to the battlefield.
 
Viv was "Killed in Action" on 4 May 1917.  He was 20 years old.  His service is recorded on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France along with over 10 thousand Australians who were killed in France and have no known grave.  Viv is also listed on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial Canberra, ACT (Panel 38) and the Waverley Soldiers' War Memorial located in Waverley Park, Sydney.

Viv's British War Medal, Victory Medal, Memorial Scroll with King's Message and Memorial Plaque were presented to his parents.  They have been passed down through the generations and are still in the care of Viv's family.

In Memoriam
* SMH, 2 June 1917, Roll of Honour, Vivian Henry Walsh entry from his father Charles and mother Ellen of Waverley and his only surviving grandparent his grandmother Jane of Zetland "God his soul is keeping".
* SMH, 2 June 1917, Roll of Honour, Vivian Henry Walsh entry from all of Viv's siblings in remembrance of their dearly loved brother.
* SMH, 2 June 1917, Roll of Honour, Vivian Henry Walsh entry from his friend Private Leslie Sweeney "A young life nobly ended".
* SMH, 12 June 1917, Roll of Honour, Vivian Henry Walsh entry from the Beer family of Little Coogee "Dearly we loved him in life, we love his memory now".

Story provided by the granddaughter of Viv's sister, Nellie Marjory Walsh Potts.