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Biographical entry Walsh, Tom (1871 - 1943)

Born
1871
County Cork, Ireland
Died
1943
Occupation
Trade Union - Activist

Summary

Walsh was a seaman, trade union activist and journalist who arrived in Australia in 1893. In that same year, he joined the Social Democratic Vanguard and was employed as a seaman on coastal ships. By 1909, he had become a member of the federal executive of the Federated Seamen’s Union of Australasia and in 1912, became the New South Wales Branch Secretary.

He married English suffragette Adela Pankhurst in 1917, who like him, actively campaigned against conscription during the First World War.

As General Secretary of the Seamen’s Union, Walsh organised the strike of 1919 and was imprisoned for three months for this. He became Federal President of the Seamen’s Union after 1922 until he was defeated in 1928 after years of clashes over union strategy with other members. He was readmitted to the Union in 1936.

Archival resources

National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection

  • Thomas Walsh and Adela Pankhurst Walsh papers, 1905-1961, 1905 - 1961, MS 2123; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details
  • Thomas Walsh and Adela Pankhurst Walsh papers, 1905-1961 [microform], 1905 - 1961, MFM G 22829 - G 22867; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details

Sophie Papadopoulos