Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born 3 April 1884 in Wallaroo, South Australia.
(SA Birth Record 1842 - 1906 Book: 325 Page: 318 District: Dal.)

Father John WALSH   (b.  -  d. 3/8/1940   87 years old)  and
Mother Margaret Ann (nee HERBERT)  b.    - d.  21/8/1953  94 years old)
living at Margaret Street, Wallaroo, South Australia.   Later moved to Glenelg, SA.
Both are buried with their son, Douglas John Walsh at the West Terrace Cemetery,
Adelaide, SA.

On enlisting Douglas lived at Hamburg Hotel, Adelaide, SA.

He was well known, prior to enlisting, as a "prominent footballer" -
playing for Port Adelaide and Sturt.

He was a member of the Adelaide Reporatory Theatre, and a good
singer in some various concerts.

Next of kin in service:
Brother  1734 2nd Lieutenant D'Arcy Stuart Walsh
             43rd Battalion
             4/10/1917  Killed by a bullet (in action) - Zonnebeke, Belgium
             No known grave
             His name is commemorated on The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 27), Belgium

Previous service:
6 months  Wallaroo Mounted Rifles
2 1/2 months AIF Sergeant N Group

Described on enlisting as 31 years 1 month old; 5' 9 1/2" tall; 167 lbs;
dark complexion; grey eyes; dark hair; Church of England

21/5/1915     Completed medical at Keswick - fit for service

21/6/1915     Enlisted at Keswick, South Australia
                    Commanding Officer appointed Douglas to 5th reinforcements,
                    27th Infantry, Mitcham Camp

12/1/1916     Embarked from Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide on board HMAT Borda A30
                    as a 2nd Lieutenant, 8th reinforcements, 27th Infantry Battalion,
                    7th Infantry Brigade

7/2/1916       disembarked into Egypt

27/2/1916     Alloted to and proceeded to join 10th Battalion, Zeitoun 
28/2/1916     attached, not yet absorbed, Front Line Canal Defence

27/3/1916     proceeded to join British Expeditionary Forces, ex Alexandria
                    on board Saxonia
3/4/1916       disembarked into Marseilles, France

In March 1916 he was in France and the Western Front, until 1918, the battalion took part in bitter trench warfare.

14/4/1916     taken on strength into 10th Battalion, in the field, France

10/5/1916     promoted to Lieutenant

20/6/1916     Gun shot wound to scalp
                    admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station
23/6/1916     embarked on board HS Brighton to England
25/6/1916     admitted to 3rd Longon General Hospital

The 10th Battalion's first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme valley in July. After Pozieres the battalion fought at Ypres in Flanders before returning to the Somme for winter.

9/8/1916       marched in to 3rd Training Battalion, Perham Downs
14/8/1916     marched out to British Expeditionary Forces

3/1/1917       sick to hospital - Bronchitis, France
                    admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance
27/1/1917     rejoined unit

In 1917, the battalion returned to Belgium to take part in the major British offensive of that year - the Third Battle of Ypres.

8/4/1917       Gun shot wound to neck - wounded in action, Rouen, France
                     admitted to 2nd Red Cross Hospital, Rouen, France
12/4/1917      embarked on board HS St George for England
14/4/1917      admitted to 3rd London General Hospital
7/5/1917        discharged to Perham Downs

21/5/1917      proceeded overseas to France
25/5/1917      rejoined unit, France

18/6/1917      London Gazette - Awarded MILITARY CROSS (MC)
                     '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.'

27/7/1917      proceeded on leave to Paris
4/8/1917        returned to unit

28/8/1917      proceeded to UK on special leave
9/9/1917        returned to unit, France

18/3/1918      severe bronchitis - in the field
                     admitted to 11th Casualty Clearing Station, in the field
                     placed on regiment seconded list

21/3/1918      admitted to 1st ADRS
26/3/1918      to convalescent home, Cape Martin

15/4/1918      Classified B11 for 1 month, and granted 3 weeks sick leave
                     to England

16/5/1918      transferred to England, for Medical Board, ex Havre, France

24/5/1918      embarked per D9 from England, to return to Australia
                     (sick with nephritis enlarged heart, bronchitis)

Stated by family, friends and noted in the local newspapers, that although
Douglas returned home, he was a very sick man.

12/8/1918     Douglas died of illness, received through service
                    nephritis enlarged heart, bronchitis
                    at the 7 Australian General Hospital, Keswick Military Hospital, SA

buried in:      West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, SA 
                    a plaque in the  "Garden of Remembrance"
                    Section: Road 1 North; Path No. 6;   E/W: W;   Site No.35.

Medals:
Military Cross; British War Medal (31750), Victory Medal (31527); Memorial
Plaque and Memorial Scroll (984511)

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  12/4/2015.  Lest we forget.