Welshman, Henry
349 Sergeant Henry Welshman DCM - Light Horse Signal Squadron
Henry Welshman was born on the 12th March 1889 to John and Annie Welshman.
He was one of several siblings, his brothers being Jack, Tom, Alfred and Frederick and Sister Blanche and Ethel. The family lived in Gloucestershire and Fred was educated at St Luke’s School in Gloucester.
After leaving school Tom took up an apprenticeship as a Blacksmith with the Gloucester Wagon Company. After five years duration he had qualified to work as a Blacksmith.
During this time Tom had also had voluntary service with the Territorial Army-Field Artillery in Gloucester for four and a half years.
In 1912 all the family apart from the eldest son Jack moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Harvest Street North Fremantle. On arrival in WA Henry secured employment as a Blacksmith with the WA Government Railways.
In 1913 his sister Blanche married Albert A Williams in Fremantle and they also set up residence in North Fremantle. Everything was going well for the family since their arrival in WA with all the sons finding employment plus also taking up service in the local citizen’s forces units.
On the 19th October 1914 Henry enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 6 feet tall;
Weight - 173 lbs;
Chest Measurement - 35-38 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Brown
Hair - Dark.
After being sent to Blackboy Hill Camp, Henry was assigned to "B" Squadron of the 10th Light Horse Regiment with the regimental number 349.
Henry trained with them in WA until the 17th February 1915 when they boarded the H.M.A.T. “Surada” in Fremantle Harbour and set sail overseas. After arriving in Egypt in March 1915 they set up camp at Mena near Cairo and commenced training. The men of the 10th would have noticed the infantry depart Egypt through March and April, and news came in at the end of April that a landing had been made on the Turkish coast at Gallipoli.
The Light Horse were not involved in the landing at Anzac, however due to the high number of casualties among the infantry a decision was made to send the Light Horse as dismounted troops. The 10th Light Horse arrived at Anzac Cove on the 19th May 1915 and after disembarking they were sent to an area near Russel’s Top. They were immediately drawn in to the fighting in and around Quinn’s Post.
Henry was part of the Signal Section of the 10th Light Horse. He served through the Gallipoli campaign and saw their actions at Quinn's Post, the Nek and Walkers Ridge and came through unscathed.
For a time he was also attached to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade HQ as a Signaller. He served at Gallipoli until the Regiment was withdrawn in December 1915. After a short time in Mudros, the 10th Light Horse Regiment returned to Egypt on the 27th December 1915.
For the next three months Henry remained with the 10th Light Horse in Egypt. However with the creation of a Signal Squadron for the Anzac Mounted Division, Henry was transferred into this unit on the 2nd April 1916.
Henry served at the Battle of Romani in August 1916, helping to maintain communications, and was appointed to Lance Corporal. In November 1916 he was promoted to Corporal and was again promoted to Sergeant in February 1917.
Henry saw action at Maghdaba in December 1917 and Rafa in January 1917, and survived the fight at Gaza in April 1917.
In August 1917 Henry was sent to a school of instruction to learn more advanced signal techniques and he passed the course extremely well.
He returned to his unit on the 24th October 1917, just in time to be involved in the Beersheba action and saw the subsequent capture of Jerusalem just weeks later.
In early 1918 Henry was recommended for the award of Distinguished Conduct Medal. This wasn't just for one action but for a sustained period of service. The official recommendation reads;
Period 15th September 1917 to March 1st 1918. During the whole of this period, this non commissioned officer's devotion to duty was of an exceptionally high order.
Henry served out the remainder of the war with the Signals unit, without going on leave or being sick.
He then came down sick in March 1919 and was given a spell in hospital after which he was sent to a rest camp. On the 1st May 1919 Henry went on leave to England and he was there for three months.
On the 8th August 1919 he boarded the ship Katoomba and set sail for home, arriving in Fremantle on the 15th September 1919.
Henry was discharged from the AIF on the 15th October 1919. After returning home he resumed his previous career of being a Blacksmith.
In 1925 he married Bertha Bydder and they lived at 16 Ainslie Road North Fremantle.
He was a councillor in North Fremantle between 1928 to 1933.
Henry served again in World War Two (W31732) with the 5th Garrison Battalion from 1940 to 1942 and the Fremantle Battalion (W69072) of the Volunteer Defence Corps.
In 1967 from his home in Ainslie Road in North Fremantle Henry applied for his Anzac commemorative medallion.
Henry died on the 14th July 1969 aged 79. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.