LARKIN, Martin Joseph
| Service Number: | 419 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 September 1914, Sydney |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Lambton, New South Wales, Australia, 1 April 1877 |
| Home Town: | Auburn, Auburn, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 25 April 1915, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey Panel 14 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 419, 1st Infantry Battalion, Sydney | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 419, 1st Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 419, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Sydney | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 419, 1st Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli |
Help us honour Martin Joseph Larkin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
The oldest of six children of William Joseph Larkin and his wife Mary Ann Rennix, Martin 'Paddy' Joseph Larkin was a 37 year old blacksmith living in Park Road, Auburn when he enlisted in early September 1914. His younger brother, Edward 'Ted' Rennix Larkin (MLA for Willoughby and Secretary of the NSW Rugby Football League) had enlisted a fortnight earlier.
Both were assigned to C Company of the 1st Battalion, Paddy as a private and Ted with the rank of Sergeant.
The pair landed at Gallipoli with the 1st Battalion just after 6.15 am on Sunday, 25 April 1915. At 9.30 am orders were received to reinforce Colonel MacLagan's 3rd Brigade working its way towards Battleship Hill. The whole battalion was thrown into the firing line but amoungst the confusion and caos of the morning the battalion diary recorded that "the men worked independently of Battalion Headquarters".
Both brothers were killed during the day, Paddy at an unknown location and Ted, who was mentioned in Divisional Orders for his gallantry, at Pine Ridge. The bodies of the brothers were not recovered and they have no known grave.
Private Martin Joseph Larkin and his brother Sergeant Edward Rennix Larkin are memorialised on the Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing.
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
"It will be interesting to our many readers to learn that the late 'Paddy Martin' (Martin Larkin), who lost his life in the battle of The Dardanelles, was one of the founders of the old Newtown Pastime Club. Paddy, with another brave lad now at the front, 'Bull' Nicholls, were partners in many a willing spar at the smoke concerts at the then popular institution. Paddy was a most promising boxer in 1899, in which year he fought his never to beforgotten battle with the late 'Otto' Cribb; beat Webster in four, Scholes in one, and Hock Keys in five-rounds; but lost to that sterling welter 'Poet' McCoy, one of the best of his day. Among others he accounted for in his boxing career were Ed Jessop, Mat Mitchie, 'Poet' McCoy in a return match, 'Psycho' Hansen, Jim Barr and Joe Walcott."
Saturday Referee and the Arrow (Sydney), 26 June 1915
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