The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (321) Sergeant Edward Rennix Larkin, 1st Battalion, AIF, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (321) Sergeant Edward Rennix Larkin, 1st Battalion, AIF, First World War.

321 Sergeant Edward Rennix Larkin, 1st Battalion, AIF
KIA 25 April 1915
Photograph: H19448 (left)

Story delivered 21 April 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Edward Rennix Larkin.

Ted Larkin was born in Lambton, New South Wales, to William and Anne Larkin. His family moved to Sydney when he was a boy, and he attended school at St Benedict’s Broadway and later St Joseph’s College. After studying at Sydney University, Larkin eventually worked for the police force. In 1903 he married May Yates and went on to have two sons.

In his school days and in the years that followed Ted was an enthusiastic sportsman. His greatest love was rugby, and he played first-grade Rugby Union for Newtown before representing New South Wales. He was one of the earliest Wallabies, playing for Australia against the All Blacks in 1903.

In 1908 Rugby League split from Rugby Union in Australia, but a year later the league was heavily in debt and in danger of bankruptcy. Larkin left his job with the police force and became secretary of the league, where he displayed a “great administrative capacity”. Within six years the league’s fortunes turned around, and Larkin ensured its future with a balance of several thousand pounds.

In 1913 Larkin became the first Labour representative to win a metropolitan seat north of Sydney Harbour. He approached his new role with his customary energy, and was considered a man with “a bright career before him in the cause of his country”.

Ted Larkin was “universally liked and respected”. He loved telling jokes, particularly at his own expense. He went grey very early, and delighted in recounting stories in which people thought him to be much older than he was. A man accidentally mentioned to him that the Newtown rugby team had “one old beggar among them” – “I was the old beggar,” Larkin used to say, with a twinkle in his eye.

But Larkin could also be serious. On the outbreak of war he felt compelled to enlist, simply because he felt his role should be to say “come on”, rather than encouraging others to “go on”. He joined the 1st Battalion and was quickly promoted to sergeant.

Larkin was with the 1st Battalion on 25 April 1915 when it landed at Anzac Cove. He quickly led his section to the heights above the beach, and around 3 pm ordered his men to advance against a Turkish position. He was at the front of the charge when he was killed. Corporal Lawlor, who was with Larkin at the time, later wrote:

It must have been shrapnel that got him for we were charging under bursts of shrapnel, and there was very little rifle fire. Teddy was well up in front, but I can’t tell you any details, for we had all gone mad.

Larkin’s brother Martin was also killed nearby.

Ted Larkin’s body was recovered in the armistice arranged on 24 May for the Turkish and Anzac sides to bury their dead. He was interred somewhere near Anzac Cove, but the exact location of his grave was lost; he is now remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial to the missing.

At the requiem held in Larkin’s memory back home the Reverend Dowling, who had married Ted and May years before, said that he had “possessed high ideals, and these he lived up to and died for … he trampled underfoot all considerations when the call of duty came, and died like a hero”.

Ted Larkin was 34 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 Australians who died during the First World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection. Larkin is standing on the left.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant Edward Rennix Larkin, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section

Sources:
National Archives of Australia service record, E.R. Larkin.

“Footballer and legislator: Ted Larkin killed in action”, Winner, 23 July 1915, p. 7.

“A brilliant scholar: son of Ted Larkin MLA”, Sunday Times, 23 December 1923, p. 17.

“Ted Larkin, MLA: killed at the Dardanelles”, North Western Courier, 18 June 1915, p. 4.

“Larkin memorial meeting”, Freeman’s Journal, 4 November 1915, p. 9.

“A Memory of ‘Ted’ Larkin: ‘A fellow of infinite jest’, brimful of fun”, Referee, 14 July 1915, p. 12.

“How Sergeant E.R. Larkin died”, Referee, 18 August 1915, p. 12.

“Sergt. Larkin, MLA, died leading heroic charge”, Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times, 25 September 1915, p. 5.

“How Sergeant Larkin died: interview with Corporal Lawlor”, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 12 August 1915, p. 5.

“Colonel Ryrie with ‘the boys’: incidents at Gallipoli”, Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, 23 July 1915, p. 4.Section