Pte 300413 Peter Walsh

• Age: 22
• From: Widnes, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 4th December 1917
• Commemorated at: Hooge Crater Cem, Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: X.D.4

Peter Walsh was born on 29^th June 1895 at Widnes, the son of Roger Walsh and his wife Mary Ann (nee Whitty) who were married in 1893. His birth was registered as Peter Welsh. His siblings George, Kathleen and Roger were also registered as Welsh.   
 
He was a parishioner of St Marie`s church and member of the Catholic Club. In his younger days he played half back for the Ferndale Football Team and was employed at the United Alkali Golding Davis Works in Widnes. He attended St Marie's Roman Catholic Primary School, Widnes.

The 1901 Census finds the family, recorded as Welsh, living at 28 Grenfell Street, Widnes. Peter is five years old and lives with his parents and four siblings. His father, Roger, is a chemical labourer aged 31, born in St Helens in 1870, whilst his mother, Mary, is aged 30, born 1871, born in Ireland. His siblings are shown as; George aged 7, John 4, Thomas 2 and new born Kathleen. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 12 Eleanor Street, Widnes. Peter is aged 15 and an apprentice blacksmith, living with his parents and seven siblings. His father, Roger, is still a chemical labourer  whilst his mother, Mary, is aged 40, advises that she was born in Wexford, Ireland. They have been married for eighteen years and have had ten children of which two of whom had died. Peter's siblings recorded in the property are; George aged 17 is a shipping clerk, John aged 14 is an errand boy, Thomas aged 12, is at school, Kathleen aged 10, Joseph aged 6, Veronica aged 3, and Roger born 1911.

The mystery surrounding the surname changes can be traced back to his father's birth as Roger Wells who in the 1871 Census is recorded as Roger Wells aged 1 living with parents George and Catherine Wells. Subsequent Census records show in 1881 Rodger Welsh aged 12 living with parents George and Catherine Welsh and by 1891 Rodger Welsh aged 20 boarding with the Whitty family, most likely where he met his future wife Mary Ann. 

He enlisted in Widnes and originally served as Private 250148, Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry but following a transfer was serving in the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 300413 when he was killed in action on the 04^th December 1917, aged 22.

The 18th King`s moved into the line at Gheluvelt on the 4th December and that night had to face a heavy bombardment from the German artillery.

The 18th Bn War Diary records -

On 4th December the battalion moved up to front line trenches at Gheluvelt, No.3 Coy on right, No.4 Coy in centre, and No.2 Coy on left.  Heavy enemy shelling, all calibres and Minenwerfers. Several direct hits on R. Coy posts. Retaliation asked for but little response from our guns.  Casualties 6 killed, 6 wounded.

Peter Walsh was one of those casualties referred to in the diary as killed. The other men killed on the same day were;  James Gerald Baron, John George Haywood, Thomas James Hennessy, Cornelius Palfrey, and Edward Ernest Roberts.

He was buried close to where he fell but after the war when graves were concentrated he was reburied and now rests at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium.

Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On 31 October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out when the chateau was shelled; from 24 May to 3 June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On 30 July, the Germans took the chateau, and on 9 August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on 6 June 1916 and on 31 July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6 Kms beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on 28 September.

Hooge Crater Cemetery was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer early in October 1917. It contained originally 76 graves, in Rows A to D of Plot I, but was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt. 

There are now 5,916 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 3,570 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials record the names of a number of casualties either known or believed to be buried among them, or whose graves in other cemeteries were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He had three brothers in the army, George & John in the Royal Engineers and Thomas in the King`s Own Lancaster’s.

Thomas was killed in action on 29th August, 1918, aged 18, the second grievous loss for the family to bear in 9 months. He now rests at HAC Cemetery in France. 

Soldiers Effects for Peter went to father Roger,  and the Pension to mother Mary.

His parents were still alive on 1939 register at 106 Mottershead Road, Widnes, with children Joseph and Roger.

His mother died in 1945 aged 75 whilst his father died in 1956 aged 84. 

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