| Rank | Private |
| Service # | 880814 |
| Unit # | 186th Battalion, 18th Battalion |
| Resident | Dover Township |
Regimental number: 880814. RG150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10228-48, Item: 289122, PDF: B10228-SO48. Date of Birth: 6/02/1888 in Dover Twsp., Kent Co., ON. Next of Kin: Mrs. Julia Welsh (mother), his father was John. Occupation: Clerk (not married). Address: 94 Grand Ave. West, Chatham, ON.
Attestation: 27/06/1916 at London, ON/ to the 186th Batt. O/S. Age: 24 years 4 months. Height:5’ 8”, Girth: 33”, Complexion Fair, Eyes: Hazel, Hair: Dark Brown. Weight 124 # to 135 #. Medical: at Chatham,ON 16/06/16. Certified of Officer: 27/06/16 overseas to 18th Batt. Cdn. Infantry – for service in France.
He was training at Camp Borden 15/09/16. Received hs Medical Board at Chatham 1/03/17.
Sailed from Halifax aboard the S.S.Lapland 25/05/17. Deparked: England at Liverpool 7/04/17 at Segregation Camp – Bramshotte. Transferred to 4th Cdn. Batt. Joined the 18th Batt. “Carrying Party”. Returned to 18th. Granted 14 days of leave in England 26/01/18.
Private Patrick P. Welsh left for overseas with the 186th Battalion March 26th, 1917, and after training at Bramshott Camp, proceeded to France June 17th, 1917, with re-reinforcements for the 18th Battalion. He received shrapnel wounds in the right elbow October 10th, 1918, spent one week in No.13 Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne, eight days in Colchester Military Hospital, England, and convalesced at Epsom, after which he reported at the C.C.D. Witley, and returned to the 4th Reserve. He was then sent to Rhyl, Wales, and left for Canada January 29th, 1919, arriving at Halifax February 6th, 1919.
Patrick was wounded 9/10/18 and sent to 13 General Hospital – Boulogne 15/10/18. Shrapnel to his Right Arm . Transferred to Colchester Hospital at Military Convalescent Hospital – Epson Park. 30/10/18 Discharged 16/12/1918 (age 36 years). There was no disability from his wound.
He returned from overseas aboard the S.S. Baltic at Halifax 29/01/19 to No.1 D.D. 8/02.1919 Posted to Casualty Co. Granted a furlough 26/02/19. Discharged H.M.S. Demob. 1/03/19
His Discharge Certificate is dated 1/03/1919.
Patrick Parnell passed away 8 November, 1958.
The Chatham Daily Planet ran an article (date unknown) “Helped Inter Fallen Comrades”
Pat Welsh writes of Heavy Fighting of the Canadian
A short letter had been received by Mr. and Mrs. Welsh from their son Pte. Parnell Welsh (better known as ‘Pat’ who left Chatham with the 186th Battalion.
His letter confirms the report of the death of some Chatham men.
In part he writes:
Somewhere in France.
August 24th 1917.
Dear Mother and Father:-
No doubt you will be expecting to hear from me sooner, but if you knew what I have gone through since the 15th of August. I know you would excuse me for not writing sooner. Suppose you have read the papers about the terrible battle we went through, and lost so many of the 186th boyes killed and wounded. I was right among them and it was sad to see your chums falling so fast. The battle lasted for a week and you may be sure I was all in., for it was a case of no sleep, and very little to eat, but I am thankful for escaping so far.
I got a slight shell shock and was lost from the battalion for 3 days, and I think I was reported missing, but I am safe and real well now. I helped to bury Delahaunty, Ivan Wilson, David Aitkin and Jack Dyer, they had a very nice burial in a cemetery back of the lines. I cannot see for the life of me how I escaped for the shell killed and wounded many, and I was only 10 feet away from the men were killed.
I never want to witness such a sight again. The officers say it was the worst battle in the war, even worse than the battle of Vimy Ridge and the Spmme. If you had seen me after the battle was over I was a sight my clothes all in rags and my self scratched.
But I am all right now and fitted up with new clothes. I helped to capture two Germans as prisoners.
It has rained a great deal here, the mud and water are knee deep in the trenches. Capt. Brackin, Lieut. Oliver, Lieuts. Spencer and Mowbray are with us in the 18th
Hoping you are well.
From your loving son, Parnell.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | Chatham Daily Planet (14-09-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (19-10-1918), Chatham Daily Planet (17-02-1919), CDP, LAC |
| Height | 5'8" |
| Weight | 124 to 135 lbs. lbs |
| Eye Colour | Hazel |
| Age | 24 yrs. 4 mths. |
| Complexion | Fair |
| Hair | Dark Brown |
| Race | White |
| Birthplace | Dover Township, Ontario |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Last Place of Employment | Trudell and Tobey, Gent's Furnishings, Chatham. |
| Marital Status | Single |
| When Enlisted | June 11th, 1916 |
| Where Enlisted | Chatham, Ontario |
| Next of Kin | Father- John Welsh, Chatham. Mother- Mrs. Julia Welsh. |
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