Percy Augustine Larkin was born in 1888 in Moss Vale, son of Peter Francis & Matilda Mary (Jekyll) Larkin. He was one of 12 children.

APPLICATION

He was a single labourer, living in Tyalgum, eager to do is bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 13^th November 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as is father, Peter. His medical showed he was 28 years 4 months old, 5ft 7 ½ inches tall (1.71m), weighed 138 lbs (63kgs), with a fresh complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His eyesight was good and he was dentally fit. Percy was Roman Catholic. He was enlisted as a private in the 2^nd Light Horse Regiment, 21-30 reinforcements with service number 3234.

 2^ND LIGHT HORSE REGIMENT

The 2nd Light Horse Regiment was a mounted infantry unit of the Australian Army during World War I. Raised in August 1914, it was part of the 1st Light Horse Brigade. The regiment fought exclusively against the Ottoman Empire. The regiment was composed of mounted infantry, known for their mobility and versatility, and played a significant role in campaigns across Gallipoli, Egypt, Sinai, and Palestine.

 3^RD LIGHT HORSE FIELD AMBULANCE

He was transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance in July 1917.

The 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance was a medical unit of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War I. Formed in Queensland on October 2, 1914, it was part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. The unit provided crucial medical support to the brigade, operating in the Middle East. The 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance's legacy is marked by its dedication and adaptability, playing a vital role in supporting the health and morale of the troops.

AUSTRALIAN TRAINING CAMP

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service.

It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

 Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas

 The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

 This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months

 VOYAGE OVERSEAS

On the 10^th May 1917, the recruits left Melbourne, sailing upon the HMAT Boorara. They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. 

 ISOLATION CAMP MOASCAR

The recruits disembarked at the Suez on 20th June 1917. They were marched into the Isolation Camp at Moascar. This camp provided the final preparation for training in Egypt. The isolation camps screened soldiers arriving in Egypt as reinforcements for two weeks, checking for any illnesses such as measles which can break out when people are crowded together for long periods. Ismailia is a city in north-eastern Egypt, situated on the west bank of the Suez Canal.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH JULY 1917

On 27^th July 1917 Percy was assigned to the 3^rd Light Horse Field Ambulance and officially transferred on 25^th August. The 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance played a crucial role in World War I, providing medical aid and transport for wounded soldiers in the Australian Light Horse Brigade.

 The unit was divided into two sections: the Mobile Section, which travelled with the brigade into combat to establish Dressing Stations, and the Immobile Section, which operated Receiving Stations for further treatment.

 Transport methods included stretchers, sand carts, camel cacolets, (the camel cacolet was used to carry wounded over long distances on rough terrain impassable to wheeled transport.) and light ambulance wagons, adapted for the sandy and rough terrain. Their efforts were vital in the medical evacuation chain, ensuring wounded soldiers received timely care and were moved to Casualty Clearing Stations or Base Hospitals.

 SECOND BATTLE OF GAZA (17^th to 19^th April 1917)

The battalion played a role in treating the wounded during this challenging engagement. The Second Battle of Gaza took place from April 17 to April 19, 1917, during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. It was a failed attempt by the British Empire forces, including Australian units, to capture the heavily fortified city of Gaza from the Ottoman Army.

The British launched a frontal assault supported by infantry divisions, mounted troops, six tanks, and gas shells. However, the Ottoman defences, strengthened after the First Battle of Gaza, proved impenetrable. The tanks malfunctioned, and the gas shells were ineffective, leaving the attackers vulnerable to well-positioned Ottoman artillery and machine guns. After three days of intense fighting, the British forces suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat without gaining significant ground.

This defeat highlighted the challenges of attacking entrenched positions and led to a re-evaluation of British strategies in the region. The eventual success in Gaza came later during the Third Battle of Gaza, which involved a more strategic approach.

BATTLE OF BEERSHEBA 31^st OCTOBER 1917

Known for the famous cavalry charge, the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance was crucial in managing the aftermath of this battle. The Battle of Beersheba was a pivotal engagement during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. It marked the beginning of the British Empire's Southern Palestine Offensive and is best remembered for the dramatic charge of the Australian Light Horse.

The battle aimed to outflank the Ottoman defensive line stretching from Gaza to Beersheba. British infantry launched attacks on Beersheba's western defences, while the 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments of the Australian Mounted Division executed a bold cavalry charge against the eastern defences. Armed only with bayonets, the light horsemen overwhelmed the Ottoman trenches, capturing the town and its vital water wells.

This victory broke the Ottoman line, enabling the British forces to advance further into Palestine. The charge of the Australian Light Horse remains one of the most celebrated cavalry actions in military history

PALESTINE 1917-1918

There are two letters and a Christmas card written by Percy and sent to his brother while serving in Palestine in 1917-1918. He writes of Christmas 1917, coming under shell fire, the destruction wrought by bombs, the land and local farm work, Jewish villages, Jerusalem, and the advance to Damascus. This period saw significant advances by the British Egyptian Expeditionary Force against Ottoman forces. One of the key events was the capture of Jerusalem on December 9, 1917. This victory marked a turning point in the campaign, paving the way for further advances into Palestine and eventually towards Damascus.

 The campaign involved intense fighting in the Judean Hills and showcased the strategic importance of mounted units, including the Australian Light Horse. Their adaptability and skill in mounted warfare played a crucial role in these operations.

 ATTACHED TO HEADQUARTERS

The record simply states on 18^th September 1918 Percy was attached to Australia M Division Headquarters.  He rejoined his unit on 10^th October 1918. By this time his unit had fought their last battle in September in Megiddo and on 11^th November the fighting was officially over so he prepared to return to Australia.

 GETTING HOME

After the Armistice, the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (returned home) as quickly as possible. This logistical challenge was enormous with 135,000 troops brought home from Britain in 147 voyages, and 16,773 troops from the Middle East in 56 voyages, mostly on a first come, first go basis. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait many months before they were headed back to Australia.

HOPITALISATION 7^TH JULY 1919

While Percy was waiting to return home, he was admitted to hospital on 7th July 1919 with a perianal abscess, which is a boil-like lump filled with pus found near the anus, rectum, or perineal area (the space between your genitals and anus). It happens when one of the glands in your anus becomes clogged and infected. He was discharged on 20^th June 1919

 RETURNED HOME

Percy returned to Australia on 10^th July 1919 on the Oxfordshire. He was discharged on 17^th September 1919. He was living in Burringbar in 1920 when he applied for assistance under the War Service Homes Act. Percy enlisted in World War 11.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.