Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

A generation stolen by war, this is the only photo I have of my grandfather and most of the information I have about him is on this page.

My father, the late William James Welch was the son of William Albert Welch. My father passed away when I was 13, and I never had a conversation with my father about Grandad as I was so young myself when dad passed away, and in those days we didn't talk about the past. No stories about his relationship with his own father, no talk about his father going to war, no talk about how he felt being so young and his father dying in Borneo, Nothing! Was his father loving? Why he felt he had to go to war? I have so many questions that will never be answered.

My grandfather gave his life for Australia and in return my father was left without his dad and would spend the rest of his life being an honest and hard working man but life would always be a struggle. Now as William Albert Welch's descendant I have one pocketbook picture, no medals and very little information. What a waste of life, a man's past defined by a pocket book photo. I know of a memorial in Borneo but I will never have the money to visit this place the last resting place of my pop. My children ask about their past and the sadness of not being about to tell them much will always haunt me. If I could talk to grandad now I would tell him, "don't go Pop. Stay with your family look after them first. You owe your country nothing. Your death will set a path of struggle for your kids and their kids into the future. All they will have to show for your sacrifice is a pocket book photo."

My father and I loved you. R.I.P. pop. - from the grandson you never met, Chris.