Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

FLIGHT-LIEUT. GEORGE WALSH
Sad was the heart of our well-known townsman, Mr. R. Walsh, of the firm of Walsh and Co., when on Friday last a cable was  handed him. 'Deepest sympathy, Russell.' This came from a London cousin who idolised his son George. and with whom he made his home while in London. Mr. Walsh summed up those words to mean the worst, and immediately phoned Base Records,  Brisbane, and wired urgent Melbourne. Unfortunately on Saturday afternoon the fatal official news arrived to our worthy Mayor  and was personally delivered by the Rev. Father Murphy, meantime the news was being withheld from Mrs Walsh who was    indisposed. Toowoomba in all sincerity joins the numerous callers in extending to this afflicted family her deepest syinpathy in  the sad loss of such a brilliant young Australian.

Joining up the 9th Battalion on his 19th birthday, just three years ago, after passing the Officer's School on Instruction with a  percentage of 76, he was barred from a commission owing to youth. Notwithstanding that he held a commission in the Light  Horse Machine Gun Section, he pluckily joined as a private, and, stop by stop, in a few weeks was Company-Sergt-Major, with  which rank he left with the famous 9th. Educated at the Christian Brothers College, Toowoomba, from which place he passed the  Queensland Junior university at 14 years of age. Later, attending the Toowoomba, Grammar School for a special course of  instruction in physics, and from there again passing hoth the Queensland University and the Civil Service examination. An acceptable Government appointment not being forthcoming immediately, he joined the staff of the Bank of North Queensland at  Toowoomba when, after the short period of a five or six months, owing to his brilliance and adaptability, he was transferred to  the Warwick branch as noting teller and account, that promotion he earned by strict attention to business. Both while at the  Christian Brothers College and the Toowoomba Grammar, he was the winner of several gold medals, principally for athletics, and  during his time at both schools he won for himself by his manly character and genial disposition the respect of the teachers and  the esteem of his fellow school mates. Always taking a keen interest in military matters, having for years held a commission in  the senior cadets. from which, at the age of 17, he was transferred with a commission to the Light Horse Machine Gun Section,  going into camp lor a month, just prior to enlistment.

Leaving with the 9th Battalion, a Company Sergt Major he gained his commission at Pozieres, going through battles where many  of his friends succumbed. His second star after the big battle at Bullecourt, coming out unscathed from many big battles, the latest big push being Passchendale Ridge and Polygon Wood. While in action in the various big encounters, this young officer  seemed to possess a charmed life, while many of his friends fell, he luckily pulled through without injury. As an instance of one  of his escapes, the afternoon of the night on which he was recalled to the Royal Aviation Corps, he was standing with a Sergeant, and six men, planning a raid, when a high explosive shell dropped close by, killing two, wounding the others, with the exception  of George, and practically burying the lot. Lieut. Jim Young, a comrade of Flight-Lieut. George Walsh, is expectted to arrive in Australia by the next batch of returned wounded soldiers. These two young soldiers were lads together in Toowoomba, and were sworn friends, and, strange to relate each of them were athletes of no mean order, both carrying off a number of important  events, for the 9th Battalion. Young, winning the long distance events and long jump, and Walsh the shorter events and high  jump. He was recalled to reading for his first technical courses, thence to Wendover for theory. From there to the aerodrome at Tetbury (Gloucester) for first lessons in flying. His advancement. was so rapid, and for final instructions, and his 'wings' was sent to the finishing school in Scotland. He with another, being the two smartest, were chosen to go to Scotland, to complete their  final education as experts in aviation. In various letters to home, he mentioned that the boom of the guns he distinctly heard,  and ever the call of pilots for France moved him with a strong desire to go over and join his comrades at the Front in France, and give them a helping hand. He was a wonderful correspondent, and in our columns we have published some of the most  interesting letters sent from the Front giving graphic description of a soldier's life.

He was 22 and the son  of Richard and Mary Walsh, of Toowoomba, Queensland.

REST IN PEACE HIS DUTY DONE R.I.P.

Australian Flying Corps (AFC), of Toowoomba, Qld. Lt Walsh enlisted in the 9th Battalion, AIF, as 5213 Private (Pte) Walsh on 5 October 1915 and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Star of Victoria on 31 March 1916, before transferring to the AFC. He died of accidental injuries on 30 September 1918, In England.

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 30th September…… Patrick George Walsh was born at Cunnamulla, Queensland on 9th June, 1896.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 15th October, 1915 as a 19 year old, single, Bank Teller from Goodwood Street, Newtown, Toowoomba, Queensland.

On 9th March, 1916 Private Walsh was promoted to Sergeant with 16th Reinforcements of 9th Battalion.
Private George Patrick Walsh (rank & name as per Embarkation Roll. His rank should have been Sergeant) embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Star of Victoria (A16) on 31st March, 1916 with the 9th Infantry Battalion, 16th Reinforcements & disembarked at Port Said on 5th May, 1916.

He was posted to 1st A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot). He was marched out from 1st A.D.B.D. at Etaples, France on 26th July, 1916 & was taken on strength of 9th Battalion in France on 29th July, 1916. Sergeant Walsh reverted to ranks on joining 9th Battalion on 29th July, 1916.

Private Patrick George Walsh was promoted to Temporary Corporal from 1st August, 1916 while in France. His Temporary rank of Corporal was confirmed on 26th September, 1916.

On 2nd October, 1916 Corporal Walsh was temporarily detached to School of Instruction, England. He joined No. 4 Officers’ Cadet Battalion at Oxford, England on 5th October, 1916.

Having been passed as qualified for Commission in Infantry, Cadet Walsh was appointed to be 2/Lieutenant in A.I.F. & was posted to Infantry Reinforcements in England from 25th January, 1917.

2/Lieutenant Walsh was marched out to A.I.F. Headquarters in London from Cadet Battalion at Oxford & was granted furlough from 26th January, 1917.

He proceeded overseas to France on 13th February, 1917 & was admitted to Base in France on 16th February, 1917. He was taken on strength of 25th Battalion in France on 21st February, 1917.

On 5th June, 1917 2/Lieutenant Walsh was transferred to 9th Battalion from 25th Battalion.

2/Lieutenant Patrick George Walsh was promoted to Lieutenant from 20th June, 1917.

Lieutenant Walsh was on Leave to UK from France from 3rd September, 1917 & rejoined 9th Battalion in Belgium on 21st September, 1917.

He reported sick on 16th October, 1917 & was admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance. He was transferred & admitted to 17th Casualty Clearing Station. Lieutenant Walsh was transferred to Ambulance Train on 17th October, 1917 & admitted to 14th General Hospital, Wimereux, France with Diarrhoea on the same day.

A Medical Board Report was completed on 26th October, 1917 regarding Lieutenant P. G. Walsh. His disability was listed as Debility – “he is suffering from Debility following an attack of Diarrhoea of several weeks duration. The Board recommended 14 days sick leave to England”.

On 27th October, 1917 Lieutenant Walsh was granted 14 days sick leave by the Medical Board.

He was admitted to No. 1 Moreton Gardens on 8th November, 1917 – cause “NYD” (Not yet determined). A Medical Board Report was completed regarding Lieutenant P. G. Walsh whose disability was listed as Dental trouble – “requires dental treatment urgently due to his inability to masticate hard food.” The Board stated he would be unfit for General Service for 2 weeks. On 22nd November, 1917 the Board stated Lieutenant Walsh was fit for General Service.

Lieutenant Walsh rejoined 9th Battalion on 29th November, 1917.

Lieutenant Patrick George Walsh was accepted to the Australian Flying Corps on 19th December, 1917.

He was seconded for training with Australian Flying Corps (A.F.C.) & joined Royal Flying Corps (R.F.C.) in England on 4th January, 1918. He joined No. 1 R.F.C. School of Military Aeronautics at Reading on 4th January, 1918 to qualify for an appointment in A.F.C. as Flying Officer (Pilot).

On 26th February, 1918 Lieutenant Walsh was marched in to Training Depot at Wendover & was marched out from A.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps) Depot on 26th March, 1918. He was marched in to No. 8 Training Squadron at Leighterton, Gloucestershire, England on 27th March, 1918 & underwent a Course of Instruction to 29th June, 1918 at No. 8 Training Squadron, Leighterton, Gloucestershire, England.

Lieutenant Walsh passed Wireless List on 5th April, 1918. He passed Gunnery Test on 15th April, 1918 & passed Vickers Gun Test on 28th May, 1918. Lieutenant Walsh passed Height test on 3rd June, 1918. He passed all Ground tests in Bombing on 20th June, 1918 & passed Gunnery Tests (Lewis No. 4 & 6) the same day.

He was piloting a Sopwith Camel Serial number F1948 from Leighterton Aerodrome on 30th September, 1918 practising spin recovery techniques. The machine went into a spin & nosedived to earth.

Lieutenant Patrick George Walsh died at 11.45am on 30th September, 1918 at Leighterton, Gloucestershire, England as a result of an aeroplane accident.

War Diary - No. 8 Training Squadron
Leighteron – 30th September, 1918:
At 11.45 am Lieut P. G Walsh crashed in a Camel from a height of 1000 feet and was instantly killed. He was seen to get into a left hand engine spin from which he was apparently unable to recover his machine…..
(Extract of War Diary from the Australian War Memorial)

A Court of Enquiry was held at Leighterton Aerodrome on 30th September, 1918 for the purpose of enquiring into the circumstances connected with the accident on 30th September at Leighterton Aerodrome involving Lieutenant Patrick George Walsh. No. 8 Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps.

Report of Commanding Officer – Court of Enquiry:
“This accident was due to the machine getting into an engine spin after coming out of a steep dive at the target. I consider that the machine was pulled out of a dive with left rudder on, and immediately went into a spin. The machine was completely wrecked and the Pilot killed instantly. The Pilot being on duty at the time, was in no way to blame.”

Lieutenant Patrick George Walsh was buried in Leighterton Church Cemetery, Leighterton, Gloucestershire, England where 22 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/leighterton.html