Lt H A Walsh

Subject: Lt H A Walsh Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:00 am

A friend has recently moved into Stoke House, Stoke St Mary, near Taunton and has come across a reference to a previous occupant having fought in the Zulu war. There is also a small article on the local village website as follows:-

"The striking Regency mansion called Stoke House is a more conspicuous feature of the hill. It was finished in about 1810 and owned sucessively by the Weaver, Harman and Patton families, local tradition recording that the horse chestnuts which line its former carriage drive commemorate the many children of Captain Thomas Patton. His grandson, Henry Walsh, spent his childhood at Stoke House, and later gained distinction in the Zulu Wars, being the first to greet Major John Chard after the defence of Rorke's Drift."

Is this true? The only reference I can find on the forum is that Lt Walsh served with the Somerset Light Infantry, and was with No 3 column and was present at Hlobane, Khambula and Ulundi.

If it is true it would be an amazing coincidence as Chard's final resting place at Hatch Beauchamp is only a mile or so from Stoke House.

Posts : 3 Join date : 2015-01-10

Yes indeed Lt Walsh was there. He was the son of Theobald Walsh of Stoke House. And when Major Chard returned to Taunton after the battle in October 1879, Lt Walsh met him at Taunton and accompanied him to North Curry where Chard was going to stay with his sister and brother in law. And Chard himself says that Lt Walsh was one of the first to greet him when No 3 Column got to Rorkes Drift. Chard was of course buried at Hatch Beauchamp because his younger brother was rector.

Nice to know someone looks at my website on Stoke St Mary. If you need any more info on Walsh or Stoke House please let me know. [send an email through the History website]

Posts : 3 Join date : 2015-01-10

The Stoke St Mary History website is:

stokestmary.org.uk

Im the webmaster!!

Posts : 3156 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Henry Alfred Walsh

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Date of Birth - 18th August 1853
Lieutenant (from Militia) - Somersetshire Light Infantry - 28th February 1874
Adjutant - Somersetshire Light Infantry - 26th February 1880
Captain - Somersetshire Light Infantry (1st Battalion) - 20th October 1883
South African War - 1878-9 - Kaffir Campaign. With Mounted Infantry in Expedition against Sekukuni. - Zulu Campaign. Served with Mounted Infantry, reoccupation of the camp at Isandula, action at the Ezunganyan and Mountain, actions at Kambula, reconnaissance and battle of Ulundi. Medal with Clasp.
Source ‘1884 Army List’ (p 426, 809 & 1394)

Posts : 3 Join date : 2015-01-10

Henry Albert Walsh
Date of Birth - 18th August 1853
Lieutenant (from Militia) - Somersetshire Light Infantry - 28th February 1874
Adjutant - Somersetshire Light Infantry - 26th February 1880
Captain - Somersetshire Light Infantry (1st Battalion) - 20th October 1883
South African War - 1878-9 - Kaffir Campaign. With Mounted Infantry in Expedition against Sekukuni. - Zulu Campaign. Served with Mounted Infantry, reoccupation of the camp at Isandula, action at the Ezunganyan and Mountain, actions at Kambula, reconnaissance and battle of Ulundi. Medal with Clasp.
Source ‘1884 Army List’ (p 426, 809 & 1394)
Colonel Henry Alfred Walsh, Chief RecruitingStaff
Officer, London Recruiting District. To be Ordinary Members of the Military
Division of the Third Class, or Companions: Order of the Bath
27 Jun 1905 [London Gazette]
And in 1885 he was presented with a sword of honour, a "piece of plate" and an illuminated address by the people of Taunton, Somerset - with much speech making!!

Posts : 3156 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Western Daily Press 30 November 1918