Edmund Clement Walsh's father was John Walsh, born in Kidderminster and Headmaster of St Bede's Catholic elementary-school, Jarrow, and his mother was Irish-born Teresa Walsh.

Edmund's secondary education was mainly at St Cuthbert's Grammar School in Newcastle.

However, at the age of 17 he joined Westoe Secondary School for a year as a student teacher (where his brother Frank had also attended).

After leaving he went to Armstrong College and, in June 1914, was awarded a BA. He (along with his brother) went on to teach at St Bede's Boys' School, where his father was Head Teacher.

Both he and his brother served with the Royal Artillery Medical Corps and, while serving as a stretcher bearers in France, both were awarded the Military Medal in July, 1917, for bravery in rescuing the wounded on the battlefield.

Edmund survived the war, and died in South Shields in 1977.