Military Chat

Can anyone help me find info on my grandfather's military history. i know he comanded 13th Bn Essex Regt., 6th Bn Northants Regt and 2nd Bn London Regt.(R.F.)
And in 1922 he was Captain and Bt- Major with the Northumberland Fusiliers (formerly The King's Regt.) But can't find any record of him anywhere.

Hello Edward

It would help if you could give us his full name and when/where born.

Have a look at Hart's Army List for 1912

https://archive.org/stream/hartsannualarmy1912lond#page/n3/mode/2up

Could you clarify what you mean by "Northumberland Fusiliers (formerly The King's Regt.)" - I haven't come across these two regiments put into the same context.

Using his full name (or initials) see if there is a Commission mention in The Gazette
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/

His Military records will still be with the MOD. You can purchase a copy for £30 using the forms from the following link
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records

There are a few internet references to various Lt Col Walsh D S O, which you may already have found.

One link quotes (on page 203) from the book “The 54th Infantry Brigade: 1914-1918”
By 54th Infantry

Commanding Officers
Lieutenant – Colonel Walsh D.S.O (May 17th 1918-May 29th 1918) under the listing
6th (S) Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment.

Not all service records are still with the MoD - it depends on the timescale. For example, WW1 officers service records are available from National Archives:

http://goo.gl/HF22Te

The Northumberland Fusiliers Museum at Alnwick Castle may also have some info:
http://www.northumberlandfusiliers.org.uk/index.php
They're now closed until March but will sometimes deal with emails, depending on the query.

Welcome to the Community boards Edward.


(I'll let Edward know how to find his replies) :-)

I think this is a possibility, from British Infantry Battalion Commanders in the First World War by Dr Peter E Hodgkinson:

https://goo.gl/04aGP0

It refers to James Walsh, aged 33 (in 1916). Commissioned into Liverpool Regiment 1916, promoted Lt Colonel Dec 1917. Served with 6th Northants and 2/2 London.

There's quite a bit about him in the newspaper archives.

Ancestry should have the unit diaries covering the regiments he served in during WW1.

There's a photo of lieut.-colonel James Walsh in Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Saturday 02 February 1918.

Says he won his DSO at Cambrai for holding a critical position under heavy enemy fire.

There are also article referring to a Col Theo Walsh DSO who commanded the 13th Northumberland Fusiliers and 9th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Thank you all for your help his full name was James Herbert Stanley Walsh. I have several photos of him, I think he was born in Ireland but haven't found any record
I understand that he joined the army as a boysoldier I have a newspaper cutting reporting his death kept by my mother stating he was anOld Contemtible and recieved hisD.S.O. fighting in France and Flanders, I also have minitures of his medals but I dont know what happened to the originals :-D

I've sent a couple of articles that may be of interest

Sorry for misleading info on Northumberland fussilliers (Kings Regt ) it was how he hed writen down . He was in the Kings prior to joining Northumberland fussilliers

The articles from interesting it is definitely him

This appears to be his medal card (from Ancestry):

British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

Name: James Walsh
Regiment or Corps: The King's (Liverpool) Regiment, Essex Regiment
Regimental Number: 8747, 8747

I've sent you a copy in case you don't have it.

WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Name: James Walsh
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: A/WO. C1
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
Regiment or Corps: The King's (Liverpool) Regiment
Regimental Number: 8747
Previous Units: 8747 1st. KLR. A/W.O. C 1.