No.233572, Private, Harold Frank STARLING
Aged 19
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Harold Frank Starling was born in Burrough Green on 11th May 1898,(Newmarket Q2-1892 3B:517), baptised in Burrough Green on 17th July 1898, son of Charles and Margaret STARLING
(née SMITH).
1901 census...Aged 2, he was in Shop Lane, Burrough Green, with his father Charles STARLING [31] farm labourer; his mother Margaret [28] and brother Alfred C. [3] and sister Ida M [11 months]. All were born in Burrough Green. 1911 census...Aged 12, he was staying at Back Lane, Burrough Green, with his grand parents Charles [69] and Hannah [67] STARLING and his uncle Thomas [37] and aunt Alice [35]. His parents were still in Shop Lane with his brother Alfred, sister Ida, sister Kathleen [8] and brother Ronald [5]. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. The 1st/2nd (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) transferred to the 169th Brigade in the 56th (London) Division in February 1916. The war diary of the battalion has:- 14th April - Orders issued to Coys (A422) at 1:15 am. C.O. went to Brigade HQ at 5:30 am. Orders issued to Coys to move up in rear of QVR (Queen Victorias Rifles) at 6 am. "C" and "D" Coys along sunken road in front of HENINEL from cemetery to Divisional boundary, with "A" and "B" in rear along line of COJEUL RIVER. Movement completed by 8 am/. Battalion remained in these positions throughout the day and on the Brigade being relieved by the 168th Bgde, moved back to NEUVILLE VITASSE. arriving there at 5 am, a platoon of "C" and "D" Coys being used to act as covering party to QVR and LRB (London Rifle Brigade) in brining in the dead and wounded. CWGC has 8 of the battalion dying that day, none have a known grave. |
photo; Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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