Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

RONALD GUY LARKING

Who was killed in France on 1st April 1918 as the result of a motor cycle accident at Neuve Eglise was the son of the late Mr R. T. Larking. He was born in 1891 and was at the Melbourne Grammar Prep. in 1901. He came up to the Melbourne Grammar School Senior School in 1903 and was with us till 1910, when he left School and went to King's College, Cambridge, entering there in 1911. He was a prefect, in the football team in 1908 and 1901, and in the crew of 1910, leaving at midwinter that year. He was also in the athletic teams of 1908 and 1909. He ran a dead heat with H. Fleming (Wesley)in the mile at the Combined Sports in 1908 after a magnificent finish. He won the race in 4 mins 41 2-5th secs. in 1909, and the performance stood as a record for many years. We won "The Argus" and "The Australasian" Cup in each of these years. At Cambridge "Ronnie," as everybody knew him, earned his distinction as a boxer, and gained his half-blue for boxing in 1911. The following year he was elected President of the University Boxing and Fencing Club. He took his B.A. degree in 1914 and M.A. in 1917. He enlisted on 7th August 1914 and embarked as a Corporal in the Second Corps Signal Company R.E. Motor Cycle Section on 13th August 1914, and was in the retreat from Mons. He was given his commission in the field on 28th September 1914 and, with the exception of eight months in England training despatch riders, was continuously on active service. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 16th June 1915, and to Captain on 9th February 1918, and took part in the Battles of the Marne, the Aisne, first and second battles of Ypres, Pozieres, Messines and others. At Pozieres in August 1916, while attached to the Anzac Signal Co. as signal officer, he was awarded the Military Cross, and at Messines in June 1917, while attached to 36th H.A.G. (Signals), he gained his bar. His Colonel wrote: "He had only been with us three days, and yet in that short time it was easy for us to see what a splendid fellow he was, and also what a capacity he had for getting things done in the right way. Apart from that, he came to us with a great reputation for courage and capacity." The official description of the award for the Military Cross appeared in "London Gazette" of 25th August 1916 as follows: "For conspicuous gallantry when in company with Lieutenant Rentoul and two sappers he went to locate enemy telephone cables. Their movements were noticed, and heavy shell fire was directed on them. The two sappers were severely wounded; Lieutenant Larking attended to their wounds and later assisted in their removal over ground heavily swept by fire." The description of the award for the bar to M.C. appeared in "London Gazette" of 16th August 1917 as follows: "He displayed great initiative and courage in restoring telephone communication which had been destroyed by heavy enemy shell fire. He also organised a system of relay posts and runners whereby he was able to send back very useful information both from artillery and infantry. His example throughout inspired the men of his party." He was a splendid type of young Australian, fearless, dashing and loyal and highly popular. He was buried in the Military Cemetery at Steenwerck, and his memory is to be perpetuated by the Ronald Guy Larking Scholarship established by his mother, open to the sons of soldiers, and of the value of 120 pounds per annum.

Source : War Services Old Melburnians 1914 – 1918 Obituary Notices

RONALD LARKING held the mile record of the Victorian Public Schools until his time was beaten this year. He has now established a record which nothing can take away. He has been awarded the Military Cross for bravery in battle. Good old Ronnie, we always knew you would do something big. This is the story of his feat. He and another officer, Lieutenant Rentoul, and two sappers went out at Pozieres to detect the buried German telephone lines. They succeeded, and laid new ones for the British. The Germans discovered them and hammered them with shot and shell. Heavy guns and shrapnel poured their shot into Pozieres. As Ronnie and his party were leaving the house where the lines were, both sappers were severely wounded. Lieutenant Rentoul ran 900 yards to the aid post, while Ron. stayed and applied the
first field dressing. Lieut. Rentoul sent back the only two stretcher-bearers there were, and brought a stretcher himself, on which he and Ron. carried one sapper. They could only move at a foot pace to the aid post, and had to cross open ground that few would care to take except at the double. It is a short story, but it shows how hardly honours are won.

The Ronald Guy Larking Scholarship - By the generosity of Mrs. Larking, there has been founded in the School a scholarship, open to the sons of soldiers, of the value of £120 per annum . This scholarship is in memory of an Old Melburnian, RONALD GUY LARKING, who was at School from 1903 to 1910. He was in the VIII. and XVIII., and athletic team, and was a very fine boxer . He went to Cambridge and won his blue for boxing, and took his B .A. in 1914 and M.A. in 1917. After a very distinguished career as a signal officer , during which he was awarded the Military Cross and a bar, he was killed in France.

Source : War Services Old Melburnians 1914 – 1918 War Notes