LARKIN, Herbert Joseph
| Service Number: | 5 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 August 1914, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Royal Flying Corps |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 8 October 1894 |
| Home Town: | St Kilda East, Port Phillip, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Natural causes, St Martin's, Guernsey, 20 June 1972, aged 77 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Corporal, 5, 1st Light Horse Brigade Signal Troop, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Karroo embarkation_ship_number: A10 public_note: '' |
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| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 5, 1st Light Horse Brigade Signal Troop, HMAT Karroo, Melbourne | |
| 15 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 5, 1st Light Horse Brigade Signal Troop, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 18 Sep 1915: | Wounded Corporal, 5, 1st Light Horse Brigade Signal Troop, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW (chest) | |
| 21 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps |
Citation - Distinguished Flying Cross
Capt. Herbert Joseph Larkin.
In the recent fighting this officer has led twelve offensive patrols, and these patrols have destroyed twenty-one enemy machines and driven down four out of control. The success of his squadron is due not only to his most able leadership, but also to the fine fighting spirit he inspires by his personal courage and disregard of danger.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 2 November 1918 (30989/12968)
Submitted 7 May 2015 by Steve Larkins
Herbert Joseph Larkin Story
Herbert Joseph Larkin, DFC enlisted into the AIF in 1914 serving on Gallipoli with the 1st Signal Troop, Australian Engineers. He was wounded in action at Gallipoli on the 18-09-1915 (Bullet wound to Chest) later being promoted Temp Sgt on the 22-11-1915. Herbert Larkin was later discharged from the AIF in England to take a commission in the Royal Flying Corps on the 21-04-1916. He served with number 5 Squadron RFC in France, latter being promoted Captain and serving in a training unit in England. In 1918 Captain Larkin was posted to number 87 Squadron in France and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the French Croix de Guerre becoming an Ace with 11 confirmed kills. His ciation states "In the recent fighting this officer has led twelve offensive patrols, and these patrols have destroyed twenty-one enemy machines and driven down four out of control. The success of his squadron is due not only to his most able leadership, but also to the fine fighting spirit he inspires by his personal courage and disregard of danger". After the war Captain Larkin came back home to Melbourne Victoria and set up a number of companies, in the mid 1930’s he left Australia to live in Europe after his company went into liquidation. Larkin again served in the Military when World War Two began, On 24 July 1939, Larkin was appointed a Flight Lieutenant for service in General Duties with the Royal Air Force. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on the 1st December 1941. On 10 April 1943, he relinquished his commission. Larkin reputedly served with American forces during World War II, though details are missing, he died at St Martin’s Guernsey on the 20-06-1972.
Submitted 19 April 2015 by Kerry Bulow
Biography
Herbert Joseph Larkin, DFC, enlisted into the AIF in 1914 and embarked from Melbourne and served on Gallipoli with the 1st Signal Troop, 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade. He had previously served in the 21st Signal Troop Australian Engineers in the militia.
He was wounded in action at Gallipoli on the 18-09-1915 (Bullet wound to Chest) later being promoted Temp Sgt on the 22-11-1915.
Herbert Larkin was later discharged from the AIF in England to take a commission in the Royal Flying Corps on the 21-04-1916. He served with number 5 Squadron RFC in France, latter being promoted Captain and serving in a training unit in England. In 1918 Captain Larkin was posted to number 87 Squadron in France and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the French Croix de Guerre becoming an Ace with 11 confirmed kills.
His ciation states "In the recent fighting this officer has led twelve offensive patrols, and these patrols have destroyed twenty-one enemy machines and driven down four out of control. The success of his squadron is due not only to his most able leadership, but also to the fine fighting spirit he inspires by his personal courage and disregard of danger".
After the war Captain Larkin came back home to Melbourne Victoria and set up a number of companies, in the mid 1930’s he left Australia to live in Europe after his company went into liquidation.
Larkin again served in the Military when World War Two began, On 24 July 1939, Larkin was appointed a Flight Lieutenant for service in General Duties with the Royal Air Force. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on the 1st December 1941. On 10 April 1943, he relinquished his commission after a court martial over revealing sensitive infomration to the Press. Larkin reputedly later served with American forces during World War II, though details are scant, he died at St Martin’s Guernsey on the 20-06-1972
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