249633 Cpl. William Walsh British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Irish Regiment from:Guard Street, Kilkenny City William Walsh enlisted at Carlow on 4th January 1904. He was 20 years and 9 months old. Following 3 months at the Royal Irish Regimental Department, Clonmel, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion.
He was transferred to the 1st Battalion in India on 20th January 1905 where he attained a 3rd class certificate of education on 8th August 1908. He was serving with the 1st Battalion at Agra as of April 1911. He returned to the UK on 1st December 1911 and transferred to the Reserve on 3rd January 1912. William married Bridget Leahy a year later at St Mary's Church, Kilkenny City on 7th January 1913.
As the war clouds gathered he mobilised again at Clonmel on 6th August 1914 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion again and disembarked in France with his battalion on 13th August 1914. He was taken prisoner of war by the Germans on 20th October 1914 and was held at Limberg Camp in February 1915, transferring to internment in Holland on 1st March 1918.
On 21st September he was repatriated and transferred to the 3rd Battalion in December and continued in service under the Military Service Act. William was demobilised at Cork and transferred to the reserves on 11th March 1919.
William took up residence at New Buildings Lane, Kilkenny City. He was discharged with the rank of Corporal on 13th July 1919 but re-enlisted the following day at Kilkenny city for one year in the Labour Corps as a Corporal. He was posted initially to Irish Command Centre in Newtownards. William was finally discharged as surplus to military requirements on St Patricks Day 1920.
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