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Born on the 22nd October, 1920, to Edith Margaret and Cyril Walter Larkins, Geoffrey had three sisters, twins Joan Patricia and Rita (Peg) and Ruth. They grew up in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide with the girls attending Walford and Geoff St Peter’s, where in ’37 he completed his schooling, gaining his Leaving Certificate, studying the humanities subjects of Latin, French, History, Geography and English. Geoff’s sister, Joan was also associated with the College, being a committee member of the St Peter’s Mission dance.
Fashionable at the time, Joan also made her debut at a dance organised by her parents at the Mount Osmont Clubhouse. All the siblings were part of the Adelaide social scene, being regularly featured and photographed at a variety of different events, including at Walford House, Red Cross concerts, Bazzars for the Cripple Children, Almond Blossom and University Balls, plus a variety of parties and dances, plus the many other debutant balls.
Post school, Geoff became a clerk with Elder Smith and Company, an agricultural business primarily focussed on the wool trade. He continued to retain his links with the College as secretary of the St Peter’s Collegian’s Club being an organiser of a Red Cross and Comforts Fund Benefit in April ’40 which his sister Ruth also attended. With over 800 attendees, the proceeds were equally divided between the Red Cross Society and the Fighting Forces Comforts Fund.
Already a member of the 10th Battalion Militia, by July ’40 Geoff was listed as one of four who were named in the Commonwealth Gazette with the rank of lieutenant. As a nineteen-year-old, he enlisted in October ’40 where he was allocated the number SX10332. He was one of more than 400 people who attended the 2/48th Ball held in the then John Martin’s Ballroom that month, as did his sister, Ruth.
Within days Geoff was on the Stratheden en-route for the Middle East. He arrived in Palestine mid-December ’40, almost immediately, attending a Tactical School Commanders’ Course.
By May ’41 the 2/48th were engaged in the intense battle at Hill 209. The soldiers were taken to the start line of the offensive but a number of factors, including a sand storm and arial attack delayed the battalion’s attack. The 18th Platoon was under the command of Lieutenant Larkins. John Glenn, in Tobruk to Tarakan described how ’18 Platoon proceeded too far to the right, Captain Woods set a runner to order Lieutenant Larkins to close in towards 17 Platoon. The company then moved well forward under control, and came under small arms fire, until they came under very heavy machine-gun fire from the direction of the Water Point and Post S4.’ He added that ‘As the company commenced to move again, 18 Platoon came under heavy fire, and Lieutenant Larkins was wounded.’ He received a gunshot wound to his right arm at the elbow. ’18 Platoon was suffering casualties as it advanced, and as a result became somewhat disorganised.’
The remainder of that day was chaotic, information scant, the men weary and under heavy fire and a raging sandstorm. The next morning there was a terrific dust storm, but a foot patrol set out to find their soldiers who had not returned. For a few of those missing men it was some time before their fate was confirmed. An appalling day for the close knit 2/48th.
Back home in May ’41, the Chronicle listed Geoff as one of 29 wounded in action from his battalion. These included Pte. Laurence S. Baker, SX7282, Mambray Creek; Pte. Percival G. Bartholomew, SX7122, Narrung; Pte. Thomas Bell, SX8265, Snowtown; Joseph Buckley, SX8459, Albert Park, Vic; Pte. Robert W. Carvosso, SX7888, Glenelg; Pte. Ernest H. Chapman, SX7289, Koongawa; Pte. Ronald R. Collins, SX7163, Gulnare; Pte. M. G. Day. SX7434, Nairne; Pte. Harold W. Gass, SX7147, Mannum; Pte. Ronald A. Gepp, SX7884, Ashborne; Pte. Roy D. Goodes, SX6917. Cur ramulka; Pte. John Kennedy. SX7842, Adelaide; Lieut. Geoffrey D. Larkins, SX10332. St. Peters; Pte. Wilfred. J. Lewis, SX8856, Scott's Creek; Pte Henry O. Lohman. SX7771, Murray Bridge; Pte. Keith H. Pointon. SX7143. Prospect; Pte. Leonard G. Rex, SX7990, Colonel Light Gardens; and Pte. Leonard J Rodda, SX7327, Moonta.
Initially, Geoff was treated for his injury in hospital but returned to Australia in August, eventually being treated at the Wayville Hospital where he continued treatment for his gunshot wound that had become infected. This eventually resulted in him being classified as ‘not fit for any heavy work’. Geoff’s war wounds precluded him from active service, so he transferred to the Militia as number S17246.
On his return to Adelaide, Geoff became a popular speaker promoting support for fund-raising events, including at Prince Alfred College which had begun an ambulance fund. By that time, soldiers who had served at Benghazi and Tobruk were highly regarded and sought after as speakers. Similarly, Geoff was heard on radio in December, promoting ‘Doing With Less’, encouraging families to support the War Savings Campaign.
The following year as soldiers returned on leave, many marriages eventuated. A friend of Geoff’s, Lieutenant Malcolm Ellenby, SX1166 with the 2/10th had also been in Tobruk and chose Geoff as his best man when he married at Walkerville in January ’42. Geoff again filled this role in November ’47 at the St Peter’s College Chapel when Ken Biven married. Ken had also served as SX22763, becoming a Major.
In June ’42 Geoff was taken on strength in the 25 Australian Lab Coy. He then served in the Northern Territory, New Guinea, Bougainville and New Britain until he was finally discharged in ‘45. During this time, Geoff was promoted to the rank of Captain.
Geoff’s younger sister, Joan was also involved in the war effort in the Australian Army Nursing Service SX11652. She met and married Corporal Francis Raymond (Ray) Lynn (from Glen Innes, NSW ) of the 2/6th Armed Regiment in March ’44 at St Chads Church, Fullarton. He had been severely injured in New Guinea in January ’43 when his tank ‘came under heavy fire from Jap A/Tk gun. The Corporal’s tank was hit, L/Cpl Lynn the driver being wounded in neck and face and the crew commander Cpl Boughton, badly injured. L/Cpl Lynn, with utter disregard for his wounds and showing great presence of mind and coolness turned his tank about in what would appear to be an impossible space and brought it out saving tank and crew. The action of L/Cpl Lynn was the more creditable as it was carried out without the assistance of the crew commander, who afterwards died of wounds.’ Ray was awarded the Military Medal for his actions.
Post war, Adelaide was ready to party. Invariably Geoff’s name again appeared in the social pages, noted as a guest at many dances, buffet dinners and evening parties. He also continued to maintain contact with others who shared similar wartime rank, including Arthur Porter (Captain, SX9102), who stayed with Geoff at Fullarton Estate prior to a wedding.
Geoff moved to London where he became a director with Harlow and Jones, then Managing Director, then Managing Chairman of Hy-Ten Reinforcement Co in London. He quickly made friends and was soon noted as attending society weddings in 1950. A notable event involved the then Governor of South Australia (Sir Willoughby Norrie) attended in his role of ‘giving away’ his niece, Eleanor Kerans, the orphan daughter of Col. and Mrs. P. M. A. Kerans at her wedding. London was home to many ex-pats with Geoff coordinating the attendance of 50 past St Peter’s Collegians’ Association at a dinner in July ’52. This included two past Headmasters who were delighted to recall times with past students.
Living in London, Geoff maintained regular contact with friends back in Australia and continued to be a proud supporter of his home country and also of cricket. In a letter to a friend, which arrived in September ’53, he included a ‘Daily Telegraph’ article that praised the Australian team for “that the brilliance, hostility and courage of the Australian fielding, sustained long after any real hope can have survived, and until the last ball of the match, should be an inspiration and a challenge to every boy, for in no department of the game is practice and determination more certain to yield its reward.” The author, chairman of the MCC Youth Cricket Association concluded that “When Mr. Hassett and his team sail for home they will be leaving the Ashes behind, but they should be taking with them the gratitude of all who care about the future of English cricket for all they have done to show the next generation how the game should always be played.” Geoff added his own impression that “This cutting should dispel the rumours of the unpopularity of the Australian cricketers. The general opinion is that they are one of the most popular teams to visit this country. Hassett has been a true sportsman and played the game in a very friendly spirit. The Australians were wonderful losers and it made a deep impression on the people of this country.”
Geoff’s father, Cyril’s death at the family home in Fullarton in June ’52, was sudden and unexpected. His mother, Edith sailed to London to visit Geoff in November ’54. At that stage Geoff was an executive and councillor with the Merton Council in London.
As a 47-year-old, Geoff married Frances Mary Bell in February ’67, with the two having three children, Annabel Mary, Michael Geoffrey and Adrian Charles.
Aged 75, Geoff died on the 20th July ’96 at Wimbledon, England.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.