Lance Corporal Percy WIlliam Larkin
Percy William Larkin was born on 17 February 1893 in Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, the first of two children of James Edwin Larkin (variously employed as a footman, foreman at the Hull tram silos, and grain porter) and his wife Bessie Maria (née East). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living as a boarder at 279 Holderness Road, Hull, and working as a hairdresser's assistant.
Larkin enlisted in the Hussars of the Line on 8 November 1911 (No.7729). Posted to the 10th (Prince of Wales's Own Royal) Hussars, he embarked for France on 1 November 1914. He was twice wounded, the second time in April 1917, causing the loss of an eye.
In September 1917, as part of a general reduction in the size of the cavalry, a number of men of the Hussars were transferred out of their regiments, between twenty-eight and thirty-four of them being transferred to the North Irish Horse. Larkin was one of these, and was issued regimental number 2706, but the transfer must have only been administrative, given his injury. He was awarded a pension, his level of disability assessed at 80 per cent in November 1920.
On 6 December 1917 he was discharged, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations).
On 13 May 1918 Larkin married Gladys Morritt, the Daily Mail, under a headline 'Mons Hero Married at Hull', reporting:
An interesting wedding took place to-day at Kingston Wesleyan Chapel by the Rev. R. V. Morrison, B.A., of Mr Percy W. Larkin (late corporal 10th Royal Hussars) and Miss Gladys Morritt, eldest daughter of Mrs and the late Mr. Thos. Morritt, of 31, Sherburn-street, Hull. The bridegroom, who has been twice wounded, went out with the First Expeditionary Force in 1914, where he was wounded. After returning to France he was again wounded in April last, causing the loss of his right eye, and he was discharged. ... the bride's brother (Mr Albert Morritt) also a discharged soldier, acted as best man.
At the time of the 1939 Register the couple and two children were living at 9 Marlowe Street, Kingston-upon-Hull, Percy working as a plumber's mate. He died in Hull on 30 January 1971.
Image sourced from Ancestry.com Public Member Trees – contributor Ian Larkin.