WALSH, Rowland Frederick Burnell

Rowland Walsh was the son of Rowland and Martha Walsh of 116 John Street, Round Oak, Brierley Hill. He enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders and served in the 6th Battalion which was a unit of the 51st (Highland) Division. They had fought on the Somme in 1916 and Rowland Walsh possibly joined them in 1917 for the battles of Arras, Ypres and Cambrai. In 1918 they were involved in all three German Spring offensives. He survived the Battle of St Quentin in the Flesquières salient and the subsequent Battle of Bapaume. On transfer to the Lys for recovery he experienced the Battle of Estaires and the Gordons were then transferred to the Aisne where they were forced to defend against the strong enemy attack in the Tardenois. Casualties were extremely high and he was killed in action on the Ardre. He was 23 years of age and is buried in Marfaux Military Cemetery (VII C 6) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.