Herbert Joseph Larkin
Encyclopedia
Captain Herbert Joseph Larkin was an Australian-born British World War I flying ace
credited with 11 confirmed victories. Postwar he became a pioneering aviator and aircraft manufacturer in his native Australia. He returned to his nation's service for World War II. After that war, he became a human rights advocate and author.
. His father, Herbert Benjamin George Larkin, was from Kent
, England. The Larkin patriarch was a clerk for the Australian United Steam Navigation Company until about 1901; he then moved his family to Melbourne. By 1916, he accepted a manager's position with Commonwealth Shipping Line, and would later rise to become Chairman of the Board
.
Herbert Joseph Larkin was educated at St. Thomas Grammar School in Melbourne. He became a junior clerk for the Union Steam Ship Company.
He enlisted in the Signal Troop of the Australian Imperial Force
on 19 August 1914. He claimed two years prior experience in the 21st Signal Troop. He designated his next of kin as M. H. Larkin, residing in Saint Kilda
, and claimed British citizenship.
, AIF as a corporal
. He served in both Egypt and at Gallipoli
as signals clerk for Generals Sir John Monash and Sir Henry George Chauvel. He was wounded in the chest by a sniper at Gallipoli on 18 September 1915 and medically evacuated to England.
On 22 April 1916, Larkin was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant
in the Royal Flying Corps
. 16 July 1916 saw him appointed a Flying Officer
.
His initial aerial assignment was 5 Squadron on the French front. He earned a French Croix de guerre
avec palme in March 1917 for the excellence of his visual and photographic reconnaissance work while piloting a Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8.
On 22 April 1917 second lieutenant Larkin was appointed Flight Commander, with accompanying promotion to temporary captain. On 14 July 1917 temporary captain Larkin's French Croix de guerre award was promulgated in the London Gazette. Larkin ended his tour with 5 Squadron by transferring back to England for instructor duty. When his instructor's posting ended, Larkin began a second combat tour with 87 Squadron. Larkin was sent to the squadron to command A Flight. He did so with calculated courage, using the potent new Sopwith Dolphins to strike at the enemy only when the British had a decided advantage over the foe.
Larkin's first victories came on 3 June 1918, when he sent down a German Fokker Triplane
and an Albatros D.V
out of control over Péronne
. He would not score again until 21 August 1918. On that day, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII
and drove another down out of control in the morning, and destroyed another D.VII on an evening patrol over Fremicourt
. Four days later, he destroyed another D.VII over Haplincourt
. On 30 August 1918, he sent one Fokker D.VII down in flames and another down out of action over Velu Wood.
On 3 September, he drove down two more Fokker D.VIIs from the sky above Epinoy
. On the 16th, he destroyed another D.VII west of Abancourt
. All the while he was scoring these victories, he also led his flight to success. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valour. As the accompanying citation stated:
In the recent fighting this officer has led twelve offensive patrols, and these patrols have destroyed twenty-one enemy machines and driven down four out of control. The success of his squadron is due not only to his most able leadership, but also to the fine fighting spirit he inspires by his personal courage and disregard of danger.
, London, on 15 March 1919. On 15 July 1919 Larkin resigned his commission in the Royal Air Force. He and his bride sailed home to Australia, arriving in July 1919. After his arrival, he initially barnstormed "educational flights" in a Sopwith Dove and made fuel storage systems in his shop in Glenhuntly. Along with some old comrades from 87 Squadron, plus his brother Reg, Larkin founded an Australian Sopwith agency named Larkin Sopwith Aviation Co. of Australia Ltd. Larkin claimed the honor of the first night flight in Australia on 25 October 1919 when he piloted the Dove over Australia's version of the Henley Regatta.
In 1920, Larkin organized Victoria, Australia's first air derby
. On 28 February, he testified in court during an inquest into the death of a spectator killed during a buzzing incident during an aviation display at Geelong Racecourse
two weeks prior.
of 1929. The company even opened a flying school in 1931. However, LASCO was crippled by the Great Depression
. As part of its liquidation in 1935, Larkin testified that he had invested–and lost–£1,000 mustering out pay and a £20,000 inheritance while running the company.
As part of this partnership, Larkin Aircraft Supply Co. flew airmail and passengers over several different routes in Australia between 2 June 1924 and 9 September 1926, connecting Adelaide, Sydney, Broken Hill, Mildura, and Hay
.
However, service on Roberts' Sydney-Brisbane route failed.
In 1928, Larkin underbid Qantas
for the Camooweal-Daly Waters route, which would prove unprofitable.
In February 1930, Larkin founded an unsubsidized company, Murray Valley Aerial Services. In June, the government subsidies for southern mail services were withdrawn.
. After two days flight in, they spent about ten days exploration while contacting missionaries in the vicinity of Hermannsburg
; the flight out took another four days. The flight seems to have been a survey preliminary to developing the Palm Valley into a resort or vacation center with government help.
Malcolm Lindsay Shepherd in February 1929 was a decidedly undiplomatic means of furthering a government-supported business. The subsequent enquiry clearing Shepherd redounded to Larkin's detriment.
In 1932, Larkin helped establish the Australian Air Convention as a means of forming national aviation policies. In December 1933, this unincorporated non-governmental body distributed 1,300 copies of a circular, including one mailed to Shepherd's successor, Sir George Pearce. The circular concerned the methods used to grant government contracts without requests for tenders
.
On 26 January 1934, the Western Mining Corporation and four of its directors sued the members of the Australian Air Convention, alleging false and malicious accusations contained in the circular by the Convention had damaged both Western and its directors. When the case went to trial in June 1934, Larkin and Convention Chairman W. T. Shaw attempted to prove they had no malicious intent. WMC's counsel entered into evidence both Larkin's unsuccessful prior accusation of Secretary Shepherd and a letter alleging corruption addressed to the Bribery and Secret Commissions Prevention League. WMC's Company Secretary
and three members of the Board of Directors
testified there were no aerial survey contract discussions. The three other members of the Convention publicly disavowed the circular and were dropped from the suit. The final weight of the ensuing loss of the suit fell entirely upon Larkin and Shaw. Their subsequent bankruptcies left Larkin as a salaried manager in his own liquidated company, Larkin Aircraft Supply Company. Larkin subsequently left for Europe in 1937.
in Class CC for service in General Duties with the Royal Air Force. He was promoted to Squadron Leader
1 December 1941. On 10 April 1943, he relinquished his commission. Larkin reputedly served with American forces during World War II, though details are missing.
Larkin had divorced his first wife at some unknown date after his bankruptcy. On 6 June 1945, he remarried, wedding widow Hélène Merley Castan in Paris. He would stay married to her until 1956.
His post World War II career took him to Germany and Switzerland as well as France; again, details are lacking. In 1957, he retired to the Channel Islands and became a human rights campaigner. He capped his lifelong interest in horticulture by publishing Bonsai Culture for Beginners in 1968.
He died at Saint Martin's, Guernsey on 20 June 1972, survived by two sons and a daughter.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with 11 confirmed victories. Postwar he became a pioneering aviator and aircraft manufacturer in his native Australia. He returned to his nation's service for World War II. After that war, he became a human rights advocate and author.
Early life
Herbert Joseph Larkin was born 8 October 1894 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His mother, Annie Mary Frances McHugh Larkin, was from QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. His father, Herbert Benjamin George Larkin, was from Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England. The Larkin patriarch was a clerk for the Australian United Steam Navigation Company until about 1901; he then moved his family to Melbourne. By 1916, he accepted a manager's position with Commonwealth Shipping Line, and would later rise to become Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
.
Herbert Joseph Larkin was educated at St. Thomas Grammar School in Melbourne. He became a junior clerk for the Union Steam Ship Company.
He enlisted in the Signal Troop of the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
on 19 August 1914. He claimed two years prior experience in the 21st Signal Troop. He designated his next of kin as M. H. Larkin, residing in Saint Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
, and claimed British citizenship.
World War I
In August 1914, Larkin joined the 1st Signal Troop, Royal Australian EngineersRoyal Australian Engineers
The Royal Australian Engineers is a corps of the Australian Army . The RAE is ranked fourth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, behind the Staff Cadets, Armoured and Artillery Corps...
, AIF as a corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
. He served in both Egypt and at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
as signals clerk for Generals Sir John Monash and Sir Henry George Chauvel. He was wounded in the chest by a sniper at Gallipoli on 18 September 1915 and medically evacuated to England.
On 22 April 1916, Larkin was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. 16 July 1916 saw him appointed a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
.
His initial aerial assignment was 5 Squadron on the French front. He earned a French Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
avec palme in March 1917 for the excellence of his visual and photographic reconnaissance work while piloting a Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8.
On 22 April 1917 second lieutenant Larkin was appointed Flight Commander, with accompanying promotion to temporary captain. On 14 July 1917 temporary captain Larkin's French Croix de guerre award was promulgated in the London Gazette. Larkin ended his tour with 5 Squadron by transferring back to England for instructor duty. When his instructor's posting ended, Larkin began a second combat tour with 87 Squadron. Larkin was sent to the squadron to command A Flight. He did so with calculated courage, using the potent new Sopwith Dolphins to strike at the enemy only when the British had a decided advantage over the foe.
Larkin's first victories came on 3 June 1918, when he sent down a German Fokker Triplane
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
and an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
out of control over Péronne
Péronne
Péronne is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Péronne, Saône-et-Loire, in the Saône-et-Loire département* Péronne, Somme, in the Somme département* Péronne-en-Mélantois, in the Nord département...
. He would not score again until 21 August 1918. On that day, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
and drove another down out of control in the morning, and destroyed another D.VII on an evening patrol over Fremicourt
Frémicourt
Frémicourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village situated south-southeast of Arras, at the junction of the N30 and the D7E roads.-Population:-Places of interest:...
. Four days later, he destroyed another D.VII over Haplincourt
Haplincourt
Haplincourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village situated southwest of Arras, at the junction of the D7 and the D20 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:...
. On 30 August 1918, he sent one Fokker D.VII down in flames and another down out of action over Velu Wood.
On 3 September, he drove down two more Fokker D.VIIs from the sky above Epinoy
Épinoy
Épinoy is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village situated southeast of Arras at the junction of the N43 and D21 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:* Traces of an old castle....
. On the 16th, he destroyed another D.VII west of Abancourt
Abancourt
Abancourt may refer to:* Abancourt, Nord, a commune of the Nord département in France* Abancourt, Oise, a commune of the Oise département in France...
. All the while he was scoring these victories, he also led his flight to success. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valour. As the accompanying citation stated:
In the recent fighting this officer has led twelve offensive patrols, and these patrols have destroyed twenty-one enemy machines and driven down four out of control. The success of his squadron is due not only to his most able leadership, but also to the fine fighting spirit he inspires by his personal courage and disregard of danger.
Pioneering Australian aviation
Larkin married Vera Grace Russell Doman in St. Saviour's ChurchSt Saviour, Pimlico
Saint Saviour is an Anglo-Catholic church in Pimlico, located at the north end of St George's Square. It was constructed in the 1860s as part of Thomas Cubitt's development of the area on behalf of the Marquess of Westminster. The church was designed by Thomas Cundy, who had previously built St...
, London, on 15 March 1919. On 15 July 1919 Larkin resigned his commission in the Royal Air Force. He and his bride sailed home to Australia, arriving in July 1919. After his arrival, he initially barnstormed "educational flights" in a Sopwith Dove and made fuel storage systems in his shop in Glenhuntly. Along with some old comrades from 87 Squadron, plus his brother Reg, Larkin founded an Australian Sopwith agency named Larkin Sopwith Aviation Co. of Australia Ltd. Larkin claimed the honor of the first night flight in Australia on 25 October 1919 when he piloted the Dove over Australia's version of the Henley Regatta.
In 1920, Larkin organized Victoria, Australia's first air derby
Air racing
- History :The first ever air race was held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1908. The participants piloted the only 4 airships in the U.S. around a course located at Forest Park...
. On 28 February, he testified in court during an inquest into the death of a spectator killed during a buzzing incident during an aviation display at Geelong Racecourse
Geelong Racecourse
The Geelong Racecourse is a major regional horse racing venue in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The current racecourse dates to 1908. The annual Geelong Cup is held at the course every October, as well as a number of other race meets through the year.-History:...
two weeks prior.
Larkin Aircraft Supply Company
When Sopwith liquidated in 1921, Larkin's agency became the Larkin Aircraft Supply Company Limited. The company would grow to over 100 employees, and produce gliders and a number of powered light aircraft designs, including Australia's first all-metal airplane, the Lasco LascoterLasco Lascoter
-External links:* *...
of 1929. The company even opened a flying school in 1931. However, LASCO was crippled by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. As part of its liquidation in 1935, Larkin testified that he had invested–and lost–£1,000 mustering out pay and a £20,000 inheritance while running the company.
Pioneering air mail
In December 1921, Larkin won the government's airmail contract for the Sydney-Adelaide route. However, his lack of suitable aircraft and sufficient capital led him to partner with Frank L. Roberts in Australian Aerial Services. Roberts brought the government contract for the Sydney-Brisbane route into a partnership with Larkin. The need to form this partnership delayed acceptance of the contract until October 1923.As part of this partnership, Larkin Aircraft Supply Co. flew airmail and passengers over several different routes in Australia between 2 June 1924 and 9 September 1926, connecting Adelaide, Sydney, Broken Hill, Mildura, and Hay
Hay, New South Wales
Hay is a town in the western Riverina region of south western New South Wales , Australia. It is the administrative centre of Hay Shire Local Government Area and the centre of a prosperous and productive agricultural district on the wide Hay Plains....
.
However, service on Roberts' Sydney-Brisbane route failed.
In 1928, Larkin underbid Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
for the Camooweal-Daly Waters route, which would prove unprofitable.
In February 1930, Larkin founded an unsubsidized company, Murray Valley Aerial Services. In June, the government subsidies for southern mail services were withdrawn.
The Palm Valley Expedition
In early 1928, Larkin had fuel supplies carried by camel train from Oodnadatta to Alice Springs, establishing depots along the route. On 4 July, Larkin and Frank Neale set off in two of Larkin's planes, to fly from Melbourne into Palm Valley, Northern AustraliaPalm Valley (Northern Territory)
Palm Valley, within the Finke Gorge National Park, is an east-west running valley in the Krichauff Range 123 km southwest of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Australia. Palm Valley and the surrounding area is the only place in Central Australia where Livistona mariae palms survive...
. After two days flight in, they spent about ten days exploration while contacting missionaries in the vicinity of Hermannsburg
Hermannsburg, Northern Territory
Hermannsburg is an Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory of Australia, 131 km southwest of Alice Springs. It is known in the local Western Arrernte language as Ntaria....
; the flight out took another four days. The flight seems to have been a survey preliminary to developing the Palm Valley into a resort or vacation center with government help.
Downfall
A contemporary description of Larkin noted that his glaring deepset eyes and pinched mouth displayed his impatience and lack of tact. Certainly, his public accusation of corruption against the secretary for the Department of DefenceDepartment of Defence (Australia)
The Australian Department of Defence is a Federal Government Department. It forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation along with the Australian Defence Force . The Defence mission is to defend Australia and its national interests...
Malcolm Lindsay Shepherd in February 1929 was a decidedly undiplomatic means of furthering a government-supported business. The subsequent enquiry clearing Shepherd redounded to Larkin's detriment.
In 1932, Larkin helped establish the Australian Air Convention as a means of forming national aviation policies. In December 1933, this unincorporated non-governmental body distributed 1,300 copies of a circular, including one mailed to Shepherd's successor, Sir George Pearce. The circular concerned the methods used to grant government contracts without requests for tenders
Request for tender
A request for tender, commonly abbreviated to RFT, is a formal, structured invitation to suppliers for the supply of products or services. In the public sector, such a process may be required and determined in detail by law to ensure that such competition for the use of public money is open, fair...
.
On 26 January 1934, the Western Mining Corporation and four of its directors sued the members of the Australian Air Convention, alleging false and malicious accusations contained in the circular by the Convention had damaged both Western and its directors. When the case went to trial in June 1934, Larkin and Convention Chairman W. T. Shaw attempted to prove they had no malicious intent. WMC's counsel entered into evidence both Larkin's unsuccessful prior accusation of Secretary Shepherd and a letter alleging corruption addressed to the Bribery and Secret Commissions Prevention League. WMC's Company Secretary
Company secretary
A company secretary is a senior position in a private company or public organisation, normally in the form of a managerial position or above. In the United States it is known as a corporate secretary....
and three members of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
testified there were no aerial survey contract discussions. The three other members of the Convention publicly disavowed the circular and were dropped from the suit. The final weight of the ensuing loss of the suit fell entirely upon Larkin and Shaw. Their subsequent bankruptcies left Larkin as a salaried manager in his own liquidated company, Larkin Aircraft Supply Company. Larkin subsequently left for Europe in 1937.
World War II and beyond
On 24 July 1939, Larkin was appointed a Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in Class CC for service in General Duties with the Royal Air Force. He was promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
1 December 1941. On 10 April 1943, he relinquished his commission. Larkin reputedly served with American forces during World War II, though details are missing.
Larkin had divorced his first wife at some unknown date after his bankruptcy. On 6 June 1945, he remarried, wedding widow Hélène Merley Castan in Paris. He would stay married to her until 1956.
His post World War II career took him to Germany and Switzerland as well as France; again, details are lacking. In 1957, he retired to the Channel Islands and became a human rights campaigner. He capped his lifelong interest in horticulture by publishing Bonsai Culture for Beginners in 1968.
He died at Saint Martin's, Guernsey on 20 June 1972, survived by two sons and a daughter.