Pte 49181 John Henry Walsh

• Age: 27
• From: Ashton under Lyne
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 8th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

John Henry Walsh was born in April 1891 in Ashton under Lyne, Cheshire and was the son of Michael and Mary Hannah Walsh (nee Crabtree), of 3 Joel Lane, Gee Cross, Hyde, Cheshire who had married in 1881 at St Mary's Church, Newton in Mottram, Tameside.  

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 6, Chapel Street, Hyde, Stockport, Cheshire.

The father Michael aged 41, born 1860 is a labourer in a paper mill who was born in Stalybridge. His wife Mary is aged 39, born 1862 in Dukinfield, Cheshire and employed as a sorter in a paper mill. They have three children at the time of the Census, Sarah aged 15, born 1886 in Dukinfield and she is employed as a weaver, John Henry aged 10, born 1891 in Ashton under Lyne and Peter aged 6, born 1895 in Stalybridge. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 3 Joel Lane Gee Cross Hyde, Cheshire.

The father Michael aged 50, born 1861 is a labourer in a rubber heels work and his wife Mary is aged 49 with no occupation listed. They have been married for thirty years and have three children. Sarah now aged 25 is still employed as a weaver, John Henry aged 20, is a twister in a rope works and Peter aged 16 s also employed in a rope works.  

He enlisted in Denton and originally served as Private 4336 Cheshire Regiment. Following a transfer he was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 49181 when he was killed in action on the 8^th May 1918 aged 27 during the German Spring Offensive.

The 17th Battalion were at this time in the Vierstraat Sector. the diary reports that the day passed quietly until the afternoon. The front line ran through Klein Vierstraat Cabaret. At 4.30 pm it was reported that the Germans had advanced and were now in " our original front line". At 7.10 pm A and B company's of the 17th Battalion were ordered to move forward in artillery formation from support line with object of co-operating with French troops who were advancing towards the enemy. At 08.10 pm the advance was reported to be going well on the left but nothing could be seen on the right. The situation at the end of the day was that the 17th Battalion were holding the line alongside several other units but casualties were heavy. Captain Norman Henry and Second Lieutenant Dudley Hammond Black were killed in action alongside 17 other ranks one of whom was John Henry Walsh. 

John Henry has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Soldiers Effects to father Michael, Pension to Michael and mother Mary Hannah.

He is also remembered on the Hyde Roll of Honour.

His father Michael died June 1923 aged 61 and his mother Mary died aged 75 in March 1936. 

We currently have no further information on John Henry Walsh, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.