559 Lance Sergeant Herbert Alexander Larsen
Serbian Gold Medal, MiD
2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, AIF
7th Light Horse Regiment, AIF
by Robert Simpson
Herbert Alexander Larsen was born in Bundaberg Queensland on 21st February 1892, one of eleven children to Ludwig August Larsen and Martha Le-Neve Hutchins. He was the second child and first son to them. Ludwig was born in Norway in 1863 and migrated to Australia with his family in 1873. They arrived in Maryborough on the Reichstag. His mother, Ingeborg, passed away in Maryborough in1879 and his father, Carl Martin Larsen, died at Neerdie after falling from a horse while working at the antimony mine there in1881. Ludwig and Christian had moved to Bundaberg, where on 22nd August 1888 Ludwig married Martha at the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Both lived the rest of their lives there in the Fairymead area. He ran a successful business as a baker there. Martha was born in Melbourne in 1867 and her parents (John William Hutchins and Martha Le Neve Drinkmilk married in Melbourne in 1867) came from England. The family then moved to Bundaberg at some stage.
Herbert was obviously influenced by the cane farms and mills in the area as a child. By the 1913 electoral roll he was living in Cairns and was an assistant chemist at the Mulgrave Central Mill. He moved back to Bundaberg and on 19th December 1914 he enlisted in 1st Reinforcements of 11th Light Horse Field Ambulance as Private 559. He was 22 years and 10 months old and was a sugar chemist. Next of kin was given as his father L. A. Larsen of Fairymead Bundaberg. He had served an apprenticeship at the Fairymead Sugar Co. Ltd. Bundaberg for 5 years and was single. Herbert had no previous military training. He was described as 5 foot 7.5 inches tall, weighed 140 pounds, chest measurement of 31 to 34 inches, of a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Methodist. His attestation form stated he was born at Gooburrum which is just north of Bundaberg. The 1st Reinforcements embarked at Newcastle on 21st December 1914.
Herbert proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli on 15th May 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 25th November 1915. On 10th February 1916 he was admitted to the 4th Hospital with mumps which was classified as mild, and was discharged to duty on the 23rd. He reverted to Private on 25th April 1916. On 4th June 1916 he was transferred from the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance to the 7th Light Horse Regiment. He became a Temporary Corporal on 10th September 1915. On 29th November 1916, he was taken on supernumerary strength of the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance from the 7th Light Horse as per a Medical Order and was detached for duty to the 7th Light Horse Regiment.
Bert Larsen and his horse Ginger in Egypt
Herbert was Mentioned in Despatches, which was promulgated in the London Gazette on 1st December 1916, page 11808, position 35 as a Private with the Australian Army Medical Corps. His service records note- “Award Mentioned in Despatches for valuable Services rendered in Egypt General A. J. Murray Despatch L. G. No. 29845 List 124”. The despatch was dated 1st October. A letter was sent to his father in Bundaberg advising him of the award for distinguished services rendered during the command of General Murray.
He was promoted to Corporal on 15th December 1916.
He was awarded the Serbian Gold Medal as Private 559 in the Light Horse and it was promulgated in the London Gazette on 15th February 1917. He was one of only twenty one Australians and one of five in the Light Horse to be awarded this award. His service record has the following entry for the award – “Bestowed by the King of Serbia with approval of H. M. the King “Gold Medal” for distinguished services in the E.E.F.” Unfortunately nothing is mentioned in the War Diary for either award as to why they were awarded. A letter was sent to his father on 3rd August 1917 in Bundaberg advising him of the award.
On 3rd July 1917 he was promoted from Corporal to Lance Sergeant. Another entry has him being a Lance Sergeant with Medical Details attached to 7th Light Horse Regiment from 3rd July 1917. On 31st August 1917 he was sent sick to hospital and on 6th September he was admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital at Abbassia with appendicitis. A form from the hospital stated he had colic and colitis and was discharged from there on the 15th. He was discharged on the 24th to Moascar, Class A and was taken on strength of the 7th Light Horse the next day.
From the 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment he was detached to 67th Squadron Australian Flying Corps on 8th October 1917 and re-joined the unit from them the next day. On 19th October 1917 he was transferred to 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance and reported for duty with the 7th Light Horse the next day. He reported to AIF Headquarters at Cairo on 26th December pending return to Australia on Transport duty. At Moascar he was marched in to a training camp and reported to Australian Camp in January 1918. On 15th February 1918 he embarked on Ulysses at Suez for Australia and it also noted (“Nursing Duty”) on his record.
Herbert returned to Australia on 20th March 1918 as a Lance Sergeant with the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance. The Sydney Morning Herald published a notice on Tuesday 19th March 1918 “The following is a list of the soldiers who will disembark to-morrow :-“and under Queensland was”L.-sgt. Herbert Alexander Larsen 2nd L.H., F. Amb”. He was discharged on 23rd April 1918. On 24th April, he was granted a pension of 3 pounds 8 shillings a fortnight.
On 8th June 1919, he wrote to Base Records enquiring about a copy of the recommendation of the Serbian Gold Medal which was awarded to him as he did not want to attend a presentation of it without the document. Queensland authorities had stated it was not practice to send out recommendations with foreign awards. He stated it should be entitled to the same recognition as a British award. He also pointed out some errors in regards to his regimental particulars. He stated “My transfer to the 7th Regiment having been granted on June 3rd 1916, the latter particulars are incorrect. May I add that the medal was awarded for work done in the regiment. Confirmation of my transfer having appeared in the transfer rolls … at the time of my discharge”. A reply from Base Records noted the extract above for the medal and pointed out that they may not get records of troops in chronological order and they used the latest description that was to hand for them. He signed for his MiD emblems (two oak leaves) on 13th September and the certificate on 29th November 1920. It was certificate number 2869 and recorded his service number as 559a.
One of his brothers, Harold, also joined. Harold Leslie Larsen was born in Bundaberg on 28th January 1895. He enlisted in the 3rd Field Ambulance Australian Army Medical Corps as Private 4026 on 3rd February 1915. Originally he was given the number 1569. From his embarkation roll, he was listed as an engine driver living at Fairymead, Bundaberg. The reinforcements left Brisbane on 12th June 1915 on HMAT Karoola A63. He arrived on Gallipoli in August but picked up dysentery and diarrhoea in late September and October which caused him to be evacuated. In December, he then came down with mumps.
He arrived in France in April 1916. Harold was awarded the Military Medal which was promulgated in the London Gazette on 28th January 1918 page 1403 position 96. The recommendation stated “At WESTHOEK, East of YPRES and the area forward of this place on 4th October 1917 whilst working in a bearer squad, highly distinguished himself and set an example to all bearers. For seven days in succession, with a break of only 20 hours, he helped to carry wounded back to safety by day and night, under heavy shellfire, through shell holes and knee deep mud. When rations ran out and supplies of stretchers were needed this man formed one of a volunteer squad to return at night over a mile of trackless shell holed country, and through the concentrated fire of enemy counter attack. He set a high example to all stretcher bearers associated with him”.
Harold was killed in action at Zonnebeke Belgium on 9th November 1917 aged 22 years, whilst attached to the 2nd Field Ambulance at Ypres. There is a picture of his original grave with the original wooden cross. He is buried in Belgium Battery Corner Cemetery in Belgium Plot 2, Row D, Grave 4. He also has a memorial at the Bundaberg cemetery on his parent’s gravestone. Harold was also entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.
Belgium Battery Corner Cemetery
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After the war, Herbert resumed his previous occupation and in the 1925 electoral roll he was listed in Innisfail at the South Johnston Mill and also at Bauple at the Central Mill; both as a sugar chemist. He was obviously in the process of moving from one to the other. On 1st May 1929 he married Ida Agnes Fox in Bundaberg. Another brother, Edwin Stanley Larsen, married her sister, Frances Lydia Fox, in 1934. By 1936 they had moved to Jackson Road Sunnybank and he still was a sugar chemist.
On 4th August 1938, Herbert wrote to Base Records from Jackson Rd about his medal entitlement. He had read an article about a Victoria Cross being overlooked in the Boer War and not issued until WW1, and he said several men of the 7th Light Horse were of the opinion that he had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, but he had received nothing officially. To set his mind at ease he asked if they could do a search. He indicated which regiments he had served in (2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance and then the 7th) and what awards he had received (MiD and Serbian Gold Medal) Herbert goes on to say – “Incidents relative to the matter of my writing are as follows:- Shortly after the battle of Komani Capt. O’Hara (of Melbourne) Regt. Medical Officer to the 7th Regiment, left for Australia, when saying goodbye to me, the Captain thanked me personally for my work during the engagement and mentioned in effect, that he would endeavour to secure for me an award of the D.C.M. Some months later, Lieut. W Royds, of the 2nd Machine Gun Squadron, questioned me as to why I was not wearing, to use to his words, my second ribbon. To this I replied that I was not aware of my being entitled to wear a second ribbon. Oh, yes you are, replied Lieut. Royds, I saw a notice of the award of a D.C.M. at Brigade Headquarters”. He goes on to state that Lieutenant Colonel Onslow was also under the impression he had been awarded the D.C.M. as were others in the regiment. There were also rumours of him being awarded a V.C. He also noted that “Acting Brig. Gen. Royston, of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, had made enquiries as to my identity because of certain happenings that had come under his personal notice, and that several Officers of the Regiment had reported on my services”. He asked for an official investigation as he felt justified in having the matter investigated especially as he had heard of a similar occurrence. A reply from Base Records on 7th September 1938 to Herbert regarding the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal advised him that and examination of the records failed to disclose him being awarded any other military decoration, other than the Serbian Gold Medal.
Ida had two brothers, both of whom served in the war. Alfred George Pavey Fox joined as Driver 2995 with the 22nd Reinforcements 2nd Light Horse in May 1916. He was born in Maryborough and enlisted in Gayndah where he was working as a compositor. Alfred spent a few times in hospital with different ailments. He got in trouble in 1917 for not saluting his superior Officer, for which he was confined to barracks for 3 days. In late 1918 he was promoted to a Temporary Trumpeter Sergeant. He returned to Australia in March 1919 and was entitled to a pair.
Alfred George Fox
Another brother who served in WW1, Albert James Fox, enlisted as Private 57601 on 23rd January 1918. He listed his next of kin as his sister Constance, as both his parents were deceased, and had to sign a statutory declaration when joining. He was living in Brisbane, working as a blind maker, and had done 2 years in the Senior Cadets Area 5A and 8 months in Citizens Forces 7th Infantry. As part of the 4th Queensland Reinforcements, he left Sydney on 5th June 1918 on RMS Orontes. Arriving in France, he was allotted to reinforcements in 25th Battalion in August 1918 and the transferred to the 9th Battalion in October 1918. He returned to Australia in July 1919 and was entitled to the British War Medal only.
His father, Ludwig, passed away on 31st March 1928 in Bundaberg and is buried in the Bundaberg cemetery with his wife who lived into her 80’s and died on 13th July 1949.
Herbert retired in the late 1950’s or early 60’s. They lived at 288 Jackson Road until the late 1960’s when they moved to 38 Mains Road, still at Sunnybank. He passed away on 6th September 1979 in Brisbane and is buried at Mt. Gravatt Cemetery. Ida passed away in 1989. They were survived by three children, Agnes, Herbert and Marjorie.
Herbert in later years.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British Ward and Victory medals with MiD and the Serbian Gold Medal.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the
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Thank you for posting all of these details – Herbert and Harold were my Grandfather’s brothers