The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Major John Francis Walsh, 15th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Sharon Bown, the story for this day was on Major John Francis Walsh, 15th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Major John Francis Walsh, 15th Battalion, AIF
KIA 28 April 1915

Today we remember and pay tribute to Major John Francis Walsh.

John Walsh, known as “Jack”, was born on 1 February 1890 to John and Ellen Walsh of Charters Towers, Queensland. He was educated at the Boys’ Central State School, passing the state scholarship examinations in 1903, and was granted a scholarship to Townsville Grammar School, attending as a boarder from 1904 until shortly before his seventeenth birthday. He then studied at Sydney University before working at banks in Charters Towers, Townsville and Cairns. Walsh was described as someone who was “a favourite amongst his mates, was loved by all who came in contact with him, and was ever willing to lend a helping hand.”

Walsh also took a keen interest in the military, serving with the 2nd Infantry and senior cadets from 1907, eventually rising to the rank of captain in a rifle company of the Kennedy Regiment. When war broke out in 1914 the regiment was hastily sent to protect the far north of Queensland. Walsh was probably part of the contingent that boarded the ship Kanowna at Cairns probably around Sunday 9 August. From there the group was sent to Thursday Island, contributing half their strength to the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force in New Guinea.

Captain Walsh appears to have remained with the nucleus of the Kennedy Regiment, which reboarded the Kanowna and patrolled the waters off Far North Queensland and Port Moresby. He was the officer commanding B Company, largely composed of men from the hinterland and Charters Towers. It was reported that the men “became much devoted to their leader. Their well-being was his first and only care, and nothing was too much for him to overcome.” By late August, however, there was little further use for the remainder of the Kennedy Regiment, and, to “the disgust of everybody”, they were taken home and disbanded.

Jack Walsh returned to Charters Towers, staying for a few days before leaving to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force. He applied for, and was granted, a commission in the 15th Battalion on 1 October 1914, and left Australia for active service overseas with the second contingent. He was sent to Egypt, where the AIF was training in the desert in preparation for landing on Gallipoli, and was promoted to major shortly after his arrival.

In April 1915 Captain Jack Walsh wrote home: “we leave our little snuggery here at 10 am tomorrow, and at 5.30 pm we shall be standing off the enemy territory, preparing to disembark, and follow up the other brigades, which are landing ahead of us… We have been studying our maps thoroughly all the week… so that we shall have no difficulty in recognising our positions ashore.” He finished his letter by writing, “in our days of peace we often used to wonder and discuss how a chap would feel on the day before his first battle. I must say that so far I don’t feel it different to any other day, and I don’t suppose I shall until I feel the shells fly. However, if I pull through long enough to write you another letter I shall tell you all about our first fight, and what it felt like.”

The 15th Battalion landed on Gallipoli in the late afternoon of 25 April 1915. The bulk of the battalion took up a position in the front line, although small parties were sent to support other parts of the line. Captain Walsh was in charge of the first of these parties, sent forward under orders from Major General Sinclair Maclagan. He never returned.

Little is known of the manner of Jack Walsh’s death. If his body was recovered for burial, his grave was later lost. Today, in the absence of a known resting place, he is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial on the heights above Anzac Cove.

In Queensland, Walsh’s death was widely reported. It was written, “in his death, Queensland and the Empire lose a capable officer, whose better never wore a sword… [his] men… will miss his happy smile, his cheery, ‘Good morning, lads,’ and his encouraging words… If ever a man was born to be loved, it was Jack Walsh, and only those who have carried a pack and a rifle with him really know what sterling qualities he possessed.”

Jack Walsh died aged 25.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Major John Francis Walsh, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section