Lieutenant Legh Aquila Walsh

Lieutenant (Army).

Family Background

Lt. Walsh was the only son of the Honourable William Legh Walsh (1857-1938), who served as Alberta's Lieutenant Governor. His mother was Bessie McVittie of Barrie, Ontario. William Walsh had two children, a son and a daughter. Legh Aquila Walsh was born in 1895 in Orangeville, Ontario. His sister was Marguerite Walsh. She married Dr. George R. Pirie in 1909 in Calgary. They had one child, Margaret Walsh Pirie (Mrs. Roy Oliver Funston).

Military Service

Walsh enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War One and served the duration of the war. His attestation paper with the 82nd Battalion C.E.F. was dated August 18th, 1915 and was signed in Calgary, Alberta. At the time of his enlistment he described his occupation as law student. He indicated that he had prior military experience with the 103rd Battalion as a Provisional Lieutenant.

His Officer's Declaration Paper with the 82nd Battalion was signed on May 8th, 1916 in Calgary. He was wounded at Courcelette in 1916, returned briefly to Calgary, and then sailed back to the front where he served the remainder of the war.

He returned to Calgary after the war on April 23rd, 1919. (Source: Calgary Herald, April 23, 1919, pg. 9)

An article describing his military career appeared in the Calgary Herald on May 10th, 1919 (pg. 17) and included his photograph.

His post-war activities require further research.

Newspaper Reports during the War

The following report appeared in the Calgary Herald on September 18th, 1916:

LIEUT. LEIGH A. WALSH, son of Judge Walsh, of the supreme court, has been reported admitted to No. 7 stationary hospital, Boulogne, suffering from a gunshot wound in the forearm and chest. He is well known in this city, having lived here with his parents for the past 12 years. He was a law student with Clarke, Carson & McLeod for two years, and received his preliminary education at the Western Canada college. He also attended Trinity college, at Port Hope, for several terms, but threw up his studies last summer, when he signed up with a local unit under Lieut.-Col. Lowry.

Lieut. Walsh was always actively engaged in athletics in Calgary, participating in all branches of sport at W.C.C., and also with the Calgary university.

This report followed on October 25th, 1916:

LIEUT. LEIGH WALSH IS HOME TO CONVALESCE

Young Veteran of Fighting on Western Front is Back in Calgary

Somewhat thin and pale, but otherwise feeling fine and fit as a fiddle, Lieut. Leigh Walsh, son of Mr. Justice Walsh, who left Calgary with the 82nd battalion last May, reached his home here on Tuesday morning. He was shot through the chest and right forearm while fighting with the Canadians on the western front a few months ago. After a short time spent in a French hospital he was sent across to England where he remained for over a month before being granted leave to return to Canada.

Whether Lieut. Walsh will return to the battle front at the expiration of his furlough depends entirely on his physical fitness. He is back in Canada to convalesce and providing he feels physically able by December 12, he will again set sail for the scene of action in Europe.