SAPPER LAURENCE PATRICK CLAUDE WALSHE
7871 – 2nd Tunnelling Company
Patrick Claude Walshe was born in 1897 the son of John Henry and Mary Catherine (nee O’Keeffe) Walshe at Cobram, Victoria.
Twenty years later on July 5, 1917 at the Recruiting Office at Victoria Barracks in Sydney, NSW he applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. Attesting under name of Laurence Patrick Claude Walshe to the Supervising Enrolling Officer stated his age was twenty-one years and worked as a butcher. He said that he had been previously rejected for active service (noted as unknown) and had been serving with the G.M. Police for seven months and at his own request left to join the A.I.F. Described on enlistment as 180cms (5ft 11ins) tall, weighing 85.4kgs (188lbs) with a chest expansion of 92-99cms (36-39ins). Complexion was fresh with grey eyes that tested to good vision and had brown hair. Distinctive marks were two scars on the back of his neck and the front of his right foot. Roman Catholic was given as his religious faith. Next-of-kin nominated was his father John Henry Walshe of Tocumwal, NSW. Allegiance was sworn the same day.
Basic training commenced at the Sydney Showground Camp on July 16 for two days then was transferred for treatment for a social disease at Milsons Island being discharged on August 6, 1917 and returned to the Recruits Depot at the Showgrounds. On August 21 he was sent to the Engineer Reinforcements (2nd Military District) at Moore Park and took final home leave on August 30 to September 2, 1917. When training was completed on September 6 was relocated to the Tunnelling Reinforcements (3rd M.D.) at their camp at Bendigo, Vic. Assigned to the May, 1917 Reinforcements his rank was Sapper with the regimental number 7871. He went sick to the 5th Aust General Hospital on September 25 and returned to Bendigo on October 5, 1917 and remained there until the Reinforcements returned to their camp at Seymour, Vic. On November 20 they moved to the camp at Broadmeadows near Melbourne, Vic in readiness for their departure the following day. He is noted to have made a Will which had been lodged with the military authorities.
The troopship HMAT A71 Nestor departed Port Melbourne, Vic on November 21, 1917 with 168 Reinforcements on board. The voyage of twenty-five days duration terminated at the Suez on December 15, 1917 and the men disembarked going to the Australian Infantry Camp, Suez the same day. They entrained for Alexandria on January 4, 1918 and marched into the Australian Camp, Gabbary, in Alexandria on January 5. They boarded on January 8, 1918 the Transport E620 Abbasiah, disembarking at Taranto, Italy on 12 January. It was an unusual journey for the troops to undertake the weeklong train travel from Taranto to Cherbourg, France, and to then cross the channel to Southampton, England disembarking on January 24, 1918. A further entrainment completed their journey to Tidworth and they marched into No. 3 Details Camp at Parkhouse for further training for the front.
The Reinforcements proceeded to Southampton on March 2, 1918 for France marching into Rouelles to the Aust General Base Depot the next day. From there they went to the Aust Corps Depot on March 8 and Sapper marched out to Caestre for attachment to the 2nd Tunnelling Company in the field on March 15, 1918 and taken on strength.
Three days later he went sick to the 6th Field Ambulance with an injury to his thigh and transferred to the 53rd Field Ambulance returning to duty several days later on March 21, 1918.
Leave from France was granted from August 4 until August 18, 1918 then he returned to duty. He remained with the company after Peace was declared as they were part of the army of occupation assisting with rehabilitation of their district defusing booby traps and clearing mines left by the enemy.
Leave to the United Kingdom was taken from February 2 to February 20, 1919.
Sapper entered the 55th Casualty Clearing Station sick on March 26, 1919 and transferred on A.T.14 for the 7th General Hospital for treatment of a social disease. On April 2 he was transported on St Andrew to England and entered the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford completing treatment of 76 days.
He was discharged to Parkhouse camp on June 9, 1919 and left on June 20 for No. 2 Group camp at Sutton Veny to wait his voyage home.
On July 7, 1919 the H.T. Chemnitz was boarded for his journey to Australia. Next-of-kin were advised by Base Records on July 31, 1919 that he was on his way. Passengers were granted leave at Cape Town but Sapper Walshe failed to return to the ship on expiration of his leave on August 1, 1919. He was classed as A.W.L. at the time of sailing the following day. Half an hour later he reported himself to the A.I.F. Depot and was placed under close arrest. Later that day the following disciplinary action was taken:
Crime:(1) Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he
failed to be on board his ship HT “Chemnitz” at 900 hrs when she sailed
for Durban, all leave having expired at 2330 hrs on 1/8/19
(2) A.W.L. from 2330 hrs on 1/8/19 to 930 hrs when he reported to AIF Depot.
Award:Forfeits 28 day’s pay by O.C. AIF Depot in S. Africa. 2/8/19
He was entrained at Cape Town at 2015 hrs for Durban for conveyance to his ship H.T. Chemnitz.
The transport arrived in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on September 8, 1919.
Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on October 1, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment. A copy of his Will was sent to the A.A.G’s Office, (2nd M.D.) on the same day.
He returned to the Police Force and appears in the list of Probationary Constables almost six weeks later:
He signed at Statutory Declaration on October 15, 1920 before James Macadam, a commissioner for declarations and forwarded to the Branch of the Assistant Adjutant General’s Office, 2nd Military District in which he declared the following amendment to his details:
I, Patrick Claude Walshe, that I served as 7871 Lawrence Patrick Claude Walshe in the Australian Imperial Force, enlisting at Sydney on 5th July, 1917, and was discharged on 1st October, 1919 from that Force. On enlisting my age was given as 21 years. My correct age was 20 years.
I now desire that my records in the Australian Imperial Force be amended accordingly.
He married in Paddington, Sydney, NSW in 1920 to Honora/Hanora Bright.
For serving his country Sapper 7871 Laurence Patrick Claude Walshe, 2nd Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (7511) and the Victory Medal (75593).
In 1930 he and Honora were residing at Beecroft Road, Beecroft with the occupation of Police Constable.
By 1933 they were living at 84 West Parade, West Ryde and from 1936 onwards their home was at 57 Portland Street, Enfield and he remained a Constable with the Police Force.
During his career he was promoted to Sergeant and the following article credits his work with the Police Boys’ Clubs:
A Statement of Service was issued to the Sydney Branch of the Repatriation Commission on September 11, 1956.
His wife Hanora passed away on May 31, 1957 and the following year he married Venita Marian Hopkins at Burwood, Sydney. Their address was Killicare Road, Kincumber, NSW in 1980. Venita Walshe pre-deceased him on June 10, 1983.
Patrick Claude Walshe passed away on August 22, 1987 aged 90 years. Family notices were published in the:
Additional information given by grandson John Walshe in 2006 says:
Laurence was assumed to try and deceive enlisting as his older brother.
He was presented with a golden medal by the residents of Tocumwal on his return in recognition of his service.
© Donna Baldey 2013