Tom Walsh

Thomas Walsh (15 January 1871 – 5 April 1943) was an Irish-born Australian trade unionist. Early life He was born at Youghal in County Cork to cobbler Patrick Walsh and Mary Walsh (née Murphy). He was raised by his aunts following his mother's early death, and had little formal education. Career In 1893, he arrived in Brisbane with the intention of joining the planned socialist utopia New Australia, but lacked the necessary funds. He instead worked as a seaman and joined the Social Democratic Vanguard. He then moved to New South Wales, where he worked as a Newcastle agent for the Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia. A supporter of Peter Bowling in the 1909 coal strike, he rose to state branch secretary for the union in 1912. Walsh, as general secretary of the union, organised the 1919 strike and served three months in gaol. Both Walshes were foundation members of the Communist Party, but soon fell out with the organisation.