Son of Arthur Francis Louis Walsh (23744), who served for New Zealand in WW1.

Before enlisting in the NZ Navy Mr Walsh had served in the NZ Army attesting at the age of 18 years.

He trained with Army, 1 Taranaki Regiment, about November 1939. Service Numbers No. 2/4/201 (126064)

Mr Walsh writes of his service around Japan: "After Japan surrendered a contingent from Gambia who along with US Forces immediately occupied Japanese Fortifications at Yokosuka and Yokohama before the US Fleet and elemented, only a few, from the British Pacific Fleet ventured into Tokyo Bay and in due course all anchored in the vicinity of Tokyo for the formal surrender ceremony on USS Missori. I was not one of that initial force. Following surrender Gambia and some Australian destroyers were despatched south to the Inland Sea to a city named Wakayama where they joined two American Hospital ships and elements of US 3rd Fleet. We were sent there to assist in the evacuation of about 2,500 prisoners of war. I was ashore there for a day or so as part of that relief force. Not long after that Gambia headed for home base at Philomel in Auckland from where I was discharged in 1946". From a letter sent to the Armoury Manager, dated 14 February 1999.

Cenotaph record initially prepared with the serviceman in 1999. HMS Gambia was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy as HMNZS Gambia from 1943 to 1946 and was returned to the Royal Navy at Portsmouth in March 1946 AWMM