Regimental number | 19730 |
Place of birth | Richmond Victoria |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Carpenter |
Address | 85 Buckingham Street, Richmond, Victoria |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 21 |
Next of kin | Father, J M Starling, 85 Buckingham Street, Richmond, Victoria |
Previous military service | 20th Battery Australian Field Artillery |
Enlistment date | |
Rank on enlistment | Driver |
Unit name | Field Artillery Brigade 8, Battery 29 |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 13/36/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A7 Medic on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Driver |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column |
Fate | Returned to Australia |
Medals |
Military Medal 'On the morning of 15th May, 1917, the 29th Battery was subjected to very heavy shell fire by 5.9 shells. Under the orders of the Battery Commander all ranks except himself and these four men had evacuated the position, the Battery Commander and these four men remaining in the close vicinity of the Battery. During the bombardment a number of direct hits were made on the gun pit setting fire to three of them and causing the ammunition in the pit to commence to explode. These four men [STARLING, 19852 G.J. IRVING, 19086 L.E. McKENZIE, and 19725 H.V. TOZER], with Major CHURCHES at once went in to these pits and put out the fires with wet bags. These was done although salvoe of 5.9 were at the time bursting on the Battery position and the ammunition in the pits was also exploding, 400 rounds exploding before the fires were extinguished. By the action of Major CHURCHES and these four men two guns and about 300 rounds of ammunition were undoubtedly saved.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189 Date: |
Other details |
War service: Western Front Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal |