Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Private Benjamin Larcombe (Service No. 1328), an Australian World War One veteran, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with a plaque recognising their service for Australia.

We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 23 September 2023, along with a further 300 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

Benjamin Larcombe was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1873 to Thomas Larcombe and Lavinia Harris. He married Isabella Robson on 16 April 1898 in Queensland, and their three daughters—Vera, Isabella, and Ethel—were all born in Gympie between 1899 and 1903.

Benjamin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Brisbane in June 1915, giving his age as 44, occupation as miner, and naming his wife Isabella as his next of kin, and was assigned to the 5th Light Horse Regiment. By early 1916 he was serving in Egypt, where in February 1916 he was sent sick from Serapeum and admitted with bronchitis. He returned to duty in March 1916 and joined the 2nd Light Horse Regiment at Maadi, but was hospitalised again that month in Cairo, where he was diagnosed with neurasthenia and transferred to Montazah. From March to April 1916, he remained under medical care, including time at the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Heliopolis and the British Red Cross, before being moved to the 17th General Hospital in Alexandria, where he was diagnosed with nervous debility and returned to duty in May 1916. Later in May, he was treated again at Heliopolis for rheumatism and rejoined the 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment before another admission in June 1916.

He was hospitalised once more with neurasthenia in July 1916, received treatment in Cairo, and returned to his unit later that month, including a brief admission for prostatarrhoea. In August 1916, he transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps at Tel el Kebir and was taken on strength at Abbassia. In September 1916, he was admitted with rheumatism, transferred to Montazah, and moved between No. 14 Australian General Hospital, Montazah, and Cairo. He was transferred to the transport ship HT Ayrshire in November 1916 for return to Australia due to deafness, arriving home in December 1916, and was discharged as medically unfit in February 1917.

Following his return to Australia, he is recorded as living in South East Queensland working as a miner and labourer.

Private Benjamin Larcombe died on 26 September 1950, aged 77, and was buried in Anzac Portion 8, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

After decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. His identity has now been restored.

We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget.