William Larkin (1890-1916)

Post date: Jan 12, 2016 8:40:24 PM

William was born in 1890 in Shoreham to William G. and Agnes Larkin. By the time of the 1901 census they were living in Wateringbury at 2, Bow Terrace where William G. was a Domestic Coachman and his son, William junior, attended Wateringbury School. William won school prizes for Standard IV (in 1901 aged 11 years) and Standard V (in 1902).

His personal service record is missing, but he served as a private (service number G/16237) with the 12^th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment which was formed in November 1914 at Bexhill before being moved to France. The Battalion's War Diary is available at The National Archives, reference WO 95-2582-2. The battalion was part of the 166^th Brigade and 39^th division. It embarked at Southhampton on 4^th March 1916 arriving at Le Havre the following day. Other ranks do not get any mention by name in the diary (common for most War Diaries) so, although it is probable that William was in the battalion at this time, we cannot be sure. The battalion received drafts of 197 other ranks on 24^th July and 100 on 5^th September 1916 so it is possible William was in one of these drafts and missed the battalion's actions before his own death on 10^th October 1916.

From the battalion's arrival in France they experienced a low level of casualties as they alternated between the front line and billets at locations such as Morbecque, Estaires, Fleurbaix, Giverny, Les Choquaux, Festubert, Cuinchy, Croix Barbee and Ferme du Bois. It was at this last location that they attacked at 3.a.m. on morning of 1st July (the first day of the Somme Offensive) and entered enemy front and support lines, but subsequently had to withdraw due to shortages of ammunition. They suffered a total of 412 casualties on the day for other ranks (21 killed; 35 missing reported killed; 236 wounded;120 missing); officer casualties were 17 (5 killed;7 wounded; 5 missing). The detailed operational orders they received on 1^st July are attached to the War Diary: their objective on the day was to "capture the enemy's trenches between the BOAR'S HEAD and the salient about S.10.c.9.5." Company Sergeant-Major Nelson Victor Carter, 12th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross in connection with this action.

In July the battalion was in and out of the front line and then relatively quiet in August, but on 3^rd September they were at Mesnic and involved in the operation by the whole 39th division attacking north of the River Ancre. They reached their objective but found it impossible to hold, losing 79 Other Ranks (5 killed; 54 wounded; 20 missing) and 6 officers (1 killed; 3 wounded; 2 missing.)

On 30^th September the battalion was relieved in the Redan sector and went to billets at Mailly Maillet and then Auchonvillers spending much of the time carrying medium trench mortar bombs to gun emplacements.

On 7^th October they relieved the 14^th battalion Hampshire Regiment in Auchonvillers north sector (location called White City). The War Diary entry for 9^th to 11^th October is transcribed below:

Our artillery and T.M. [trench mortars] active in wire cutting & bombardment of enemy line. Enemy retaliated to some extent with T.M.s and 77 mm shells. Our trenches slightly damaged but repaired each night. Enemy appear to have few heavy guns opposite us in this sector. 4 O.R. [other ranks] killed. 5 O.R. wounded.

His grave (IV.M.7) is at Euston Road Cemetry, Colincamps, a village 11 kilometres north of Albert. There are 1,293 Commonwealth burials there, of which 170 are unidentified. Most of the burials are associated with three dates and engagements: the attack on Serre on 1 July 1916; the capture of Beaumont-Hamel on 13 November 1916; and the German attack on the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade trenches before Colincamps on 5 April 1918.