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Joseph Larkin cap badgePrivate Joseph Larkin

2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers
Service No: 6279

Joseph Larkin grave

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Click here for a frameable A4 print
Personal details

Family Information

Joseph was a boarder with the McQuillan's and then the Campbell's before enlisting. From the 1901 Census - Address - 185 Main St, Coatbridge - Bernard McQuillan aged 43, Mary Ann McQuillan aged 38, Ellen McQuillan aged 19, Bridget McQuillan aged 13, Patrick McQuillan aged 9, Frances McQuillan aged 6, Joseph Larkin aged 22, Peter Callaghan aged 35, Harry Wilson aged 26, Harry Loan aged 30, William Trainor aged 32. Joseph had an older brother called John who lived at 13 Bishop's Terrace, Whitehouse, Belfast.

Born / Resided

Ireland / 181 Main St , Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 14/03/1915 at the action of St Eloi

Enlisted

Glasgow 16/11/1914

Employed

Labourer in the Caledonian Tube Works.

Age

35

Buried / Remembered

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 42), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, often referred to simply as the Menin Gate, bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers who died before 16 August 1917 and have no known grave. Between October 1914 and September 1918 hundreds of thousands of servicemen of the British Empire marched through the town of Ypres's Menin Gate on their way to the battlefields. The memorial now stands as a reminder of those who died who have no known grave and is perhaps one of the most well-known war memorials in the world. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

Additional Information

The 2nd Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 19/12/1914 and were part of the 82nd Brigade, 27th Division. Joseph arrived in France on the 01/02/1915. Joseph came to Coatbridge from Ireland as a teenager and enlisted in the Royal Irish Fusiliers at the outbreak of war. He fell 40 days after his arrival. Joseph was 1 of 38 of his Battalion killed when the Germans attacked south of Ypres on the opening day of the Action of St Eloi, 14th - 15th March 1915 in which the 27th Division where the only Division involved : On the 14/03/1915, the Germans attacked St Eloi after springing two mines and captured the village, trenches nearby and the Mound, a spoil heap about 30 ft (9.1 m) high and 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) in area, on the west side of a rise, south of the village. The 80th Brigade of the 27th Division had fought hand-to-hand with the attackers but could not counterattack, because of a lack of close reserves and German artillery barrages isolating the attack front. Just after midnight, two Battalions managed to counterattack and retook the village and the lost trenches. The Mound was not regained as the Germans had managed to consolidate and retained the advantage of observation from it. This was subsequent to the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10th – 13th March 1915. SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FROM THE 1st - 14th MARCH 1915. SEE APPENDICES x 5 FOR LIST OF OFFICERS AND OTHER RANKS CASUALTIES IN MARCH 1915 AND MAPS. Joseph is listed as HENRY and 4TH BATTALION on the Memorial. He is also remembered on the St Patrick's Church Roll of Honour and the St Patrick's Roll of Honour (book) (see photos). See photos for Joseph's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial Panel List, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial, his listing on the Ireland Casualties WW1, his Service Records x 7 and the Royal Irish Fusiliers Cap Badge. Finally, I have the Battalion War Diary from December 1914 - October 1915. If information is required please contact me.

Photos
Joseph Larkin Medal Index CardJoseph Larkin newspaper clippingJoseph Larkin remembered at homeJoseph Larkin remembered at homeJoseph Larkin remembered at homeJoseph Larkin remembered at homeJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photoJoseph Larkin additional photo

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

Creative Commons License

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