STARR, Walter
| Service Number: | 3911 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 August 1915, Holsworthy, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia , 23 October 1888 |
| Home Town: | Alexandria, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fireman, Tramway Maintenance Worker |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 14 August 1916, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais - Hauts-de-France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3911, Holsworthy, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3911, 13th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3911, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 16 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 4th Pioneer Battalion | |
| 6 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3911, 4th Pioneer Battalion, Battle for Pozières , Shell wound (body and arms) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Walter STARR (Service Number 3911) was born on 23rd October 1888 at Alexandria, Sydney.
He first worked for the NSW Tramways in the Electrical Branch as a temporary shop boy at Randwick Workshops from 29th May 1905. He became permanent in July 1906. He was dismissed, in November 1907. He applied for re-employment in March 1908 but ‘no direction could be given’. In May 1910 he applied again and ‘was given another chance when a vacancy arises’. That chance came in September and Starr was employed as a temporary general labourer in the Electrical Branch of the Railways in Sydney. Three months later he transferred to the Electrical Branch of the Tramways and became permanent at Dowling Street Depot in December 1910. In 1911 he re-located to Randwick Workshops and in 1912 he was classified as a Pitman’s Assistant. In this role he moved to Sydney in April 1915.
Starr was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces on 31st August 1915 and enlisted at Holdsworthy that same day. He was married to Minnie Alice and she was nominated as his next of kin. Starr describes himself as a ‘Fireman’ on his Attestation Papers.
Starr (3911) embarked HMAT ‘Suevic’ at Sydney on 20th December 1915. Once he had reached Egypt he was re-allotted to the 45th Australian Infantry Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir in early March and then to the 4th Pioneer Battalion. He proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force in Franc, through Alexandria and Marseilles in June 1916. In August, in France he was wounded with high explosives to his body and arms at Pozières, and admitted to the 2nd General Hospital at Wimereux, where the wound was described as shrapnel injury to his back and shoulder. By 12th August he was described as dangerously ill. On 14th August he died of the wounds. He was buried in Wimereux General Cemetery.
Walter Starr’s brother, Lance Corporal Victor Starr (4241) also died on active service.
Pensions of £2/12/3 per fortnight were granted to Walter Starr’s widow, and £1 per fortnight to his son Victor James.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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