LARKINS, John Joseph
| Service Number: | 2148 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | The Junction, Newcastle, New South Wales Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | St Joseph's Convent School, The Junction, New South Wales Australia |
| Occupation: | Cleaner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Anzac Cemetery, Sailly-sur-la-Lys Plot II, Row B, Grave No. 4 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Junction Soldier's Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2148, 31st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Feb 1916: | Involvement Private, 2148, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Feb 1916: | Embarked Private, 2148, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Melbourne | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 31st Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
John Joseph LARKINS (Service Number 2148) was born in Newcastle in 1895. He was employed by the Tramways as a steam tram motor cleaner at Newcastle prior to enlisting in the AIF there in September 1915.
He was allotted to the 3rd Reinforcements of the 31st Battalion. He was sent first to Egypt and landed there in March 1916. He was ‘taken on strength’ by his Battalion in April. He was sent with them to France in June, landing on 23rd June at Marseilles. He was reported wounded in action less than a month later, on 20th July 1916. A week later this was altered to ‘killed in action’ after the report of his burial had been received. He was buried in the New Military Cemetery (later named Anzac Cemetery), Sailly-sur-Lys, five miles SW of Armentières.
A report made to the Red Cross by one of his comrades stated:
‘I did not know Pte. J.J. Larkins, but I saw his grave at Sailly, about two miles behind where the Fleurbaix stunt took place, it had his name on a cross. I was looking at the names on the graves and was struck by his name, because I have a friend Pte. J.L. Larkins in the battalion, and I thought this must be his grave: but on making enquiries I find that my friend was still alive, and that this was another man of same name.’
Another informant stated that ‘on 19 July 1916 at Fleurbaix, the whole 5th Division were making a charge and Larkins was then killed.’
A war pension was granted to his widowed mother.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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