William Starkey



Mar 21, 1894

Born in Worksop, Nottingham, England to George Henry and Emily (nee Richardson) Starkey

William’s mother passed away in 1896 when he was only 2 years old and his father was remarried to Agnes Walker in 1901.  William was living in Cudworth, England with his father and Agnes and employed in a coal mine there.

Following his father’s death in 1912, William emigrated to Canada and settled in Norwood, Ontario

 

 

 

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59908 (temporary number 348)

Ø  Next of kin give as Rhoda Starkey, sister, Worksop, Nottingham, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Clerk

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø  Assigned to “C” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

 
The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

 

Feb 14, 1915

Admitted to Kingston Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

 

Feb 15, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

 

  

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

  

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

 

Sep 20, 1915

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No. 2 for falling out of line while marching to Dranoutre, France 2 days earlier

 

Oct 4, 1915

At 10.00 am, Private William Starkey became the 2nd fatal combat casualty of the 21st Battalion when he was shot in the head and instantly killed by a German Sniper when he looked over the trench to get a better view.  He was buried at 5.30 pm the same day by Capt. W.E. Kidd MC, the 4th Brigade Chaplain, and several of his comrades beside the St. Quintin Cabaret Inn, later renamed the St. Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Wulvergem, Belgium

 

 
Following the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his sister, Miss Rhoda Starkey, 101 West Gate, Worksop, England

 
There was no Memorial Cross issued as mother had predeceased him

 

His death is the book Emma Gees by HW McBride, a 21st Battalion Sniper
on page 54

 

 
William Starkey is honoured on the Worksop, England War Memorial

 

 

He is also remembered on the Norwood, Ontario War Memorial

 

 



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