Name
James Bernard Millard Walch
11 March 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 13-15
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, Hitchin Grammar School War Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
There is difficulty in establish some of the family history because they involve both British and Australian records and because there are two men with similar names who were born in Hobart, Tasmania who served – the other being James Henry Brett Walch, who survived. In some records, where handwritten, their initials and those of their fathers are difficult to read. Possibly both fathers had previously served in Roberts Horse.
What we believe to be correct is:
James Bernard Millard Walsh was born on 11 Mar 1892 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia and his parents were James William Henry Walch and Catherine Mary Walch (née Millard). James was born in Hobart, Tasmania, on 29 December 1858 and Catherine in Braintree, Essex, born in 1855.
In 1881 Catherine was a governess for, and living with, the Whitaker family Hampton Hall, Brockton, Shropshire. Before 1881 she had lived with her parents John Hands (a schoolmaster)and Catherine Millard in Bridal lane, Headingly , Leeds, Yorkshire (1861 census) but had left home by the following census and has not yet been found in 1871.
The following provides locations for James (junior) and his parents in the following years.
Catherine married James (senior) in Hobart, Tasmania on 9 January 1883, so before then she had either emigrated and met James or had met him and emigrated to be married.
James (junior) was born in Hobart, Tasmania, so Catherine was there in 1892, but his sister, Catherine Mary Millard Walch was born in 1899 in Streatham, London and the 1901 census shows Catherine (senior) living at 67 Lydhurst Avenue, Streatham, London, with son James B M (9) and daughter Catherine (1) and recorded as a wife, and living off her own means.
The date of this census in not known, her husband and James’ father was in South Africa, and he attested into the Robert’s Horse Regiment in Cape Town on 23 March 1901. He was discharged as ‘Time Expired’ on 12 October 1901 after 224 day’s service. He must have then travelled to England, presumably to meet with his wife and family, however he reenlisted in London on 10 January 1902 joining the Imperial Yeomanry (Younghusband’s Horse).
His wife (James’s mother) died on 6 February and was buried on 8 February 1902 in Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Road, Lambeth. We are not sure if her husband was in England or South Africa when this happened, he was certainly there (Wakkestroom?) on 1 August 1902 as he was discharged at his own request to take up civil employment with The Transvaal Repatriation Dept – he was 43 years old - he became head of office and remained in South Africa until 30 November 1903 and after that date several letters of recommendation were given by his former employers, which were sent to Australia.
In her probate record she was recorded as the wife of James Henry Walsh with probate being issued to Walter John Nash Millard and Frederick Henry Millard – both brothers – her effects were valued at £19 16s 8d.
We do know that James (junior) was attending Hitchin Grammar School by the Spring of 1904 in the Upper 4th Form but left in the Summer of the same year. During both terms he was frequently late.
By 1911 James Bernard Millard Walch was 19 and living at 28 Pickwick Road, Dulwich Village, London in the home of his aunt Jane Smart Man, 74 and a widower, he was an architectural student.
It was reported that James (junior) enlisted in September 1914 at the outbreak of war, but his service record has not been found.
His father, also served in the First World War between 7 Nov 1916 and 2 Mar 1917 on ‘Home Service’ in Australia. When he enlisted on 19 October 1916 he was 57 years and 9 month old and gave his trade as a law clerk. It was noted that medically, he was unfit for active service but suitable for Home Service in Australia. He was discharged at his own request 6 November 1916 due to poor health – his service record exists. He was recorded as married, so he must have remarried.
Wartime Service
As James enlisted in September 1915 and first served as Private 1986, 28th (County of London) Battalion (Artist’s Rifles) and he landed in France on 29 December 1914. That is very early as six months of training was more usual,. It is therefore possible that he had been a Territorial or had served in the Army.
He served with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal West Surreys as a 2nd Lieutenant and arrived in France on the 29th December 1914 and was commissioned as a Temporary Officer on 25 May 1915.
He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Loos. There had been heavy rain in Champagne which made the chalky ground sticky and slithery and there was a heavy mist. The attack by the 7th Division, in which the 2nd Battalion served, was against quarries at Cite St. Elie just north of Hulluch. This was a very strong German position, but the objectives were achieved, albeit with heavy losses. Reserves needed to be brought up immediately to face the massive German counterattack. Sir John French procrastinated for some hours and, it ultimately cost him his job as Commander of the British Forces - it wasted the efforts and lives of James Walch and so many of his comrades including the Divisional Commander Sir Thompson Capper.
James is remembered on Panel 13-15 of the Loos Memorial to the Missing, in France.
The Surrey Mirror& County Post of 8 October 1915 reported his death and that he was the grandson of James Walch of Hobart (Tasmania, Australia) and the nephew Mr & Mrs Walter Millard of Hitchin Herts. His death was also reported in the Dorking & Leatherhead Advertiser the following day.
Additional Information
After his death £57 18s 6d was authorised to go to Frederick Henry Millard (an uncle) as sole executor on 15 February 1916 and then another £5 on 29 October 1919.
Probate was obtained by Frederick on 25 November 1915 with the value of his effects being £157.
Catherine (James’s sister) went to Australia and can be found there on 25 May 1922 at Miss C M M Walch of YWCA Hostel, Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tasmania, when she requested his medals, which may mean that she arrived around that time. She was also in Australia in 1928 and later records.
Hs medals appear to have been requested by his sister Miss C M M Walch of YWCA Hostel, Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tasmania, probably on 25 May 1922.
On the St. Saviour's Church War Memorial he is shown as ‘Walsh’.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
