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.
Related entries
Union Membership(s)
Wife
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
Created: 27 September 2001, Last modified: 29 October 2001