Richard James Hartland Walsh was born in Montreal, Quebec, on 15 June 1920. He attended Cote des Neiges and Kensington public schools, West Hill High School and Montreal Technical School, where he took a six-month electrical course. Before the war he worked in the professional shop at Hampstead Golf Club as an assistant golf professional. Walsh enlisted at Montreal on 9 September 1939 as a private with the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. He served in Canada and the United Kingdom before being discharged from the Army on 27 May 1943 to transfer to the Royal Canadian Air Force. He enlisted in the RCAF in London the following day as R225386 and trained as an Air Gunner, serving through No. 14 I.T.W., H.A.G.S. and 1659 C.U. He was awarded his Air Gunner badge and promoted Temporary Sergeant on 28 August 1943, then joined No. 429 Squadron on 24 September. On 29 December 1943 Halifax II JD318 took off at 16:59 for a bombing raid on Berlin and failed to return. German information later reported that Walsh had lost his life that day, and the RCAF subsequently presumed him dead for official purposes. He was 23 years old and single.
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
R/225386
Cause of Death (in war):
Killed in Action
Branch:
Air Force
Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Battalion:
429 Squadron
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Montreal, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
19 years 2 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
23 years 6 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
23 years 6 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Assistant Golf Professional
Next of Kin:
Mother: Winifred Walsh, 250 Ovington Road, Fenham, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
Address at Enlistment:
2217 Kingston Avenue, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, Quebec
Religion:
United Church of Canada
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 6.8 in / 170 cm
Weight:
146 lbs / 66 kg
Chest:
36.0 in / 91 cm
Expansion:
Marital Status:
Not Specified
Prior Military Experience:
Yes
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Died/presumed killed on operations with No. 429 Squadron after Halifax II JD318 failed to return from a Berlin operation on 29 December 1943.
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
1572 days in service
Buried at:
Tubbergen (Albergen) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Sergeant |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
429 Squadron |
|
|
|
| Temporary Sergeant; Air Gunner. Final operational unit. |
| WW2 |
Sergeant |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
|
|
|
|
| Promoted Temporary Sergeant effective 28 Aug 1943; normalized rank stored as Sergeant. |
| WW2 |
Aircraftman Second Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
|
|
|
|
| Aircrew/Air Gunner training status. |
| WW2 |
Private |
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada |
Army |
1st Battalion |
|
|
|
| Army service number D-81132. |
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
1939–45 Star |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Defence Medal |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
War Medal 1939–1945 |
|
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1920-06-15 — Born in Montreal, Quebec.
1925–1929 — Attended Cote des Neiges Public School.
1929–1932 — Attended Kensington Public School.
1932–1934 — Attended West Hill High School.
1934–1935 — Attended Montreal Technical School for a six-month electrical course.
1935–1937 — Recorded as unemployed; service application notes a period visiting an uncle in the United States.
1937-09–1939-09 — Worked at Hampstead Golf Club in the professional shop as an assistant professional.
1939-09-09 — Enlisted as a Private in the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada; Army service number D-81132.
1940-01-13–1940-02-16 — Hospitalized with broncho-pneumonia; recovered.
1940-02-23–1940-03-09 — Granted sick leave with subsistence allowance.
1940-04-05–1940-04-18 — Granted 14 days furlough.
1940-04-26–1940-05-08 — Hospitalized with pharyngitis; improved.
1940-06-09–1940-06-11 — Granted embarkation leave.
1940-06-17 — Embarked on the Antonia.
1940-06-22 — Disembarked at Botwood, Newfoundland.
1940-08-10 — Embarked on S.S. Duchess of Richmond.
1940-08-13 — Disembarked at Halifax and proceeded to Aldershot.
1940-08-22 — Embarked from Halifax for overseas service.
1940-09-04 — Disembarked at Gourock, Scotland, beginning overseas service in the United Kingdom.
1940-10-09 — Granted landing leave.
1940-12-26–1941-01-02 — Granted leave.
1941-03-13 — Taken on strength of 1st Battalion, The Black Watch after unit-transfer sequence.
1942-01-20–1942-01-27 — Granted seven days privilege leave.
1942-05-12 — Granted seven days privilege leave.
1942-06-30 — Awarded three days C.B. and forfeited two days pay under Sec. 15(1).
1942-08-05–1942-08-12 — Granted seven days privilege leave.
1942-09-09 — Disciplinary entry under Sec. 15(1); forfeiture of one day's pay recorded.
1942-11-10 — Granted seven days privilege leave.
1942-11-23–1942-11-27 — Admitted to and discharged from 18 Field Ambulance.
1942-11-30–1942-12-04 — Admitted to and discharged from 18 Field Ambulance.
1943-05-17 — Struck off strength to No. 1 Canadian Non-Effective Transit Depot (N.E.T.D.).
1943-05-27 — Discharged from the Canadian Army for the purpose of enlistment in another force after service in Canada and the United Kingdom.
1943-05-28 — Enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in London; service number R225386; classified Aircrew/Air Gunner.
1943-05-28 — Executed a new RCAF will leaving his estate to his mother, Winifred Walsh.
1943-06-12 — Posted to No. 14 I.T.W.
1943-07-09–1943-07-16 — Granted seven days privilege leave.
1943-07-17 — Posted from No. 14 I.T.W. to H.A.G.S. for air-gunner training.
1943-08-28 — Awarded the Air Gunner badge and promoted Temporary Sergeant.
1943-08-28 — Posted from H.A.G.S. to 1659 C.U.
1943-09-24 — Posted from 1659 C.U. to No. 429 Squadron, RCAF.
1943-11-23–1943-11-29 — Granted seven days privilege leave.
1943-12-29 — Halifax II JD318 took off at 16:59 for a bombing raid on Berlin and failed to return. Walsh served as an Air Gunner in the crew.
1944-09-07 — RCAF issued a Certificate of Presumption of Death, recording him missing since 29 December 1943 and presumed to have died on or since that date.
1946-10-23 — RCAF sent his mother the Operational Wings and certificate recognizing his operational service.
Notes
Born 15 June 1920 in Montreal, Quebec. Education included Cote des Neiges Public School, Kensington Public School, West Hill High School and a six-month electrical course at Montreal Technical School. Civil employment record shows assistant professional/pro-shop work at Hampstead Golf Club from 1937 until enlistment in 1939. Sports listed were golf, swimming, hockey, tennis and basketball; a 1943 medical form also records stamp collecting as a hobby.
[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]
It is now officially reported that Sgt. Richard James Hartland Walsh, only son of Mrs. Winnifred B. Walsh of Newcastle-on-Tyne. England, formerly of Montreal, and the late James E. Walsh of Huntingdon, Que. has lost his life whilst on operations over Berlin on Dec. 30th last and Is buried in the Civil Cemetery. Albergen, Holland. He was born in Montreal on Nov. 15, 1921, and received his education at Cote des Neiges Protestant School, West Hill High School and Montreal Technical School. Sgt. Walsh enlisted on Aug. 31, 1939, in his father's regiment, the Black Watch (R.H.R.) of Can- ada, and went overseas in September 1940. He was wounded at Dieppe in August 1942. In May 1943 he transferred to the R.C.A.F. and took top honours at the R.A.F. Morpeth Gunnery Schoo! in August of that year and was attached to No. 429 Bomber Command. He attended Wesley United Church, was a mem-ber of the Notre Dame de Grace Branch of the Y.M.C.A. and was well known in Montreal ski circles. His sister, Lt. N/S Gladys Walsh, is at present in England with the R.C.A.- M.C. His father. James E. Walsh, died in December 1922 and was buried at St. Anicet, Que.
Additional Service Notes
Enlisted in the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada on 9 September 1939 and served in Canada and the United Kingdom. Discharged from the Army on 27 May 1943 to enlist in the RCAF. Enlisted RCAF 28 May 1943 as R225386, trained as an Air Gunner, awarded the Air Gunner badge and promoted Temporary Sergeant on 28 August 1943, and later served with No. 429 Squadron. Halifax II JD318 failed to return from a Berlin operation on 29 December 1943.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Mother and next of kin: Winifred Walsh, identified on RCAF attestation as Winifred O'Neill, born Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. Her address is variously recorded as 250 Ovington Road and 250 Ovington Grove, Fenham, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. Father: James Emerson Walsh, contractor, born Huntingdon, Quebec, deceased before the RCAF enlistment; a 1943 medical history attributes his death to effects of the previous war. Walsh was single and had no children. A new RCAF will dated 28 May 1943 left his entire estate to his mother and appointed Mr. J. Mathewson of Montreal as executor. Miss Ivy White of Montreal was a friend/casualty contact who received missing-person notifications.
Research Notes
Two wartime service numbers are documented: Canadian Army D-81132 and RCAF R225386. The current CWVMP record correctly uses the RCAF number, under which Walsh served at death. The service file strongly supports 15 June 1920 as DOB; the existing CWVMP narrative's 15 November 1921 should not be retained as the structured DOB. Final reconciliation establishes 29 December 1943 as the operational loss/death date. The No. 429 Squadron circumstantial report states Halifax II JD318 took off at 16:59 on 29 December 1943 for Berlin and failed to return; the RCAF R230 record marks him missing from No. 429 Squadron on 29/12/43 and presumed dead on that date; German/Red Cross information reports that he lost his life on 29 December; and the RCAF presumption certificate also uses 29 December. The 30 December wording in the initial telegram reflects the reporting date after the operation, while 29 January 1944 on later administrative documents is inconsistent with the operational record and is treated as an administrative error. causeOfDeathCode is KIA under the CWVMP rule that a fatal aircraft loss on active operational service, not a training mission, is KIA. Existing CWVMP notes state that Walsh was wounded at Dieppe in August 1942. Three-pass review, including targeted searches for Dieppe, wound and injury terminology, found no service-file evidence supporting that statement. The May 1943 RCAF medical history specifically records no head injury, no other unlisted injury, and 'Results of Wounds, Injuries, Operations' as nil. Therefore the Dieppe statement should not be presented as derived from this service file; retain it only as an external research claim pending independent corroboration. The 1939 Army will is difficult to read and appears to distinguish a sister and his mother, but the names are not reliable enough for structured entry. This does not affect estate interpretation because the RCAF will dated 28 May 1943 explicitly revoked all former wills and left the entire estate to his mother, Winifred Walsh. Personal effects included letters, papers and photographs, a New Testament, an Air Gunner brevet and a Lachute rowing-club crest.
