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Mar 21, 1894
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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
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Nov 6, 1914
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Attested into the
21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario
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Number 59908
(temporary number 348)
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Next of kin give
as Rhoda Starkey, sister, Worksop, Nottingham, England
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Previous
occupation given as Clerk
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No previous
military experience given
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Religion given as
Wesleyan
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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
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Feb 14, 1915
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Admitted to
Kingston Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Influenza
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Feb 15, 1915
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Discharged to duty
from hospital
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS
Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling
Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St.
Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in
Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Sep 20, 1915
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Sentenced to 14
days Field Punishment No. 2 for falling out of line while marching to
Dranoutre, France 2 days earlier
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Oct 4, 1915
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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
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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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