| Regimental number | 1291 |
| Place of birth | Molong, New South Wales |
| School | Public School, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Brickmaker |
| Address | Molong, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 4" |
| Weight | 128 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Hannah Starr, Thistle Street, Molong, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 17th Battalion, D Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/34/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board Transport A32 Themistocles on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 55th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Age at death | 23.8 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 23 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 13), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 161 |
| Family/military connections | Brother: 671 Lance Corporal Bertie George STARR MM, 17th Bn, returned to Australia, 5 April 1919. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 16 August 1915. To hospital, 23 December 1915; admitted to No 17 General Hospital, Alexandria, 11 January 1916 (bronchitis); transferred to Convalescent Home, Montasah, 13 March 1916; discharged to duty, 3 April 1916; rejoined Bn Details, 5th Infantry Details, Tel el Kebir, 19 April 1916. Taken on strength of 55th Bn, Ferry Post, 20 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Posted missing, 20 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 26 July 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'. Note, Red Cross File No 2610302: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.' Statement, 3264 Lance Corporal J. CHARTERS, B Company, 55th Bn (patient, 3rd Southern General Hospital, Town Hall, Oxford, England), 9 November 1916: 'Informant states that "in the end of Sept. I saw an official list of prisoners and Pte. Starr's name was on the list. We were on a detached fort at the time and a special list was issued to us. I copied out the list and kept it."' Second statement, 2854 Sergeant J. JEFFERIES, B Company, 55th Bn, 29 January 1917: 'He was in the 16th sec. 16th pltn. and went over with them at Fromelles on 19th July. They got into a hot corner near the German line and were all practically wiped out. The bodies would be close to the German trenches which were 400 yds. from our lines. Hundreds of bodies were lying about and could not be brought in.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, STARR William Gordon
Red Cross File No 2610302 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
