78339 PTE. P. WALSH. K.L.R.

 

Patrick Walsh was born in the third quarter of 1892 in the School Lane area of Bamber Bridge.  His father was James Walsh (b. 1868 in Ormskirk), a card room operative.  His mother was Ellen (maiden name possibly Leigh, b. 1869 at Bilston, Staffordshire).  James’ father was originally from Ireland and the Walsh family ended up in School Lane (via Ormskirk and Wigan) in about 1890 (they lived at 11 School Lane).  James and Ellen were married in about 1890 and they had 12 children but they lost 7 of them in infancy; Patrick had 4 sisters: Ellen (b. 1891), Anne (b. 1894), Mary (b. 1896) and Elizabeth (b. 1900).  By 1911, the Walshes had moved to Brindle, where Patrick was working as a cotton weaver (they lived at 36 Bourne’s Row).  In 1913, Patrick married Teresa Woodcock (b. 1892 in Brindle).  I don’t know if the couple had children.

 

Patrick enlisted probably in early 1916.  CWGC says he was in the King’s (Liverpool Regiment), 25th Labour Company, with service number 78339.  The Long, Long Trail does not give any information about this group, but says that 23rd and 24th Works Battalions were formed in May and June 1916.  When the Labour Battalions were reorganised in 1917 Patrick was transferred to 90th Company of the Labour Corps.  90th Coy landed in France in March 1917.  In October 1917, they moved from Frémicourt to Favreuil where they were engaged in urgent work reinforcing gun emplacements.  By 18 December they were at Fins, which is not far from where Patrick is buried.  He was therefore a casualty of the retreat at the Battle of Cambrai.  He died of wounds on 12 December and is buried at Manancourt.  He was 25 years old.

 

Rank:  Private

Service Number: 78339

Date of Death:  12/12/1917

Age:  25

Regiment/Service:  The King's (Liverpool Regiment), 25th Labour Coy. transf. to (53858) Labour Corps, 90th Coy. 

Cemetery/memorial reference: VII. A. 26.

Cemetery:  ROCQUIGNY-EQUANCOURT ROAD BRITISH CEMETERY, MANANCOURT

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