Name
Richard (Frank) Starmer
1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/03/1917
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
5257
Northamptonshire Regiment
2nd Bn,
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11 A and 11 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
All Saints Church Memorial, St Paul's Walden, Whitwell Village Memorial
Pre War
Richard Starmer (later known as Frank) was born in March 1881 in St James Parish, Duston, Northampton, the son of John Starmer and Eliza R (nee Powell). and one of ten children.
On the 1881 Census the family of parents, Emma J (born 1877), Annie E (born 1878), Alfred J (born 1880) and Richard were living in Abbey Street, Duston where his father was working as a Boot Rivetter and Richard was said to be a month old. They had moved to 44 Burleigh Road, Kingsthorpe, Northampton in 1891 at which time his father was working as a shoe laster and the family consisted of parents, Emma, Annie, Alfred, Richard, Arthur (born 1885), Alice (born 1886) Bertha (born 1887) and Amelia (born 1891).
It is not known why Richard gave his name as Frank as his name when he joined the Northamptonshire Regiment as Private 5257 (for 7 years service + 5 on Reserve) on 27 Sep 1897. On 7 Jan 1898 he was posted to 2nd Battalion at Aldershot. From 20 Oct 1899 – 19 Jul 1903 he served in South Africa with 2nd Battalion earning Queen’s Medal with 4 Clasps and King’s Medal with 2 Clasps. He returned to Depot in Northampton on 19 Jan 1903 but extended his service to 8 years on 1 Apr 1904. On 27 May 1905 Frank was permitted to extend his service to 12 Years and again on 29 Sep 1908 to complete 21 year’s service. (He had previously served with the (4th Militia) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment).
He was named as Richard when he married Annie Dunkley on 4 Jan 1904 at St Pauls Walden, Herts. They had five children, Violet Ethel (21 Oct 1905), Richard Alfred T (5 Jul 1907) Emily Marian (28 Oct 1909), George Alfred (19 Aug 1911) and Amelia Anne (7 Aug 1913), but George died in infancy in Malta in 1912.
In 1911 he was listed on the Census return as a serving soldier in Floriana Barracks, Malta with the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. His wife and children Richard and Emily were also living there in married quarters. They had been born in Colchester, Essex. Their five year old daughter Violet was living at St Pauls Walden with grandmother Emma Miles.
Wartime Service
Richard (Frank) was in Alexandria, Egypt having arrived on 18 Jan 1914 with 2nd Battalion Northants when War was declared and was soon returned to UK in Oct 1914. The Battalion became part of 24 Brigade 8 Division and went to France, landing at Le Havre on 5 Nov 1914.
The Battalion were in reserve for the Initial attack on the opening day of the Battle of Neuve Chapelle (10 Mar - 22 Apr 1915). Richard (Frank) was wounded on 10 Mar 1915 but returned to his Unit after recovery on 23 Mar 1915. At the Battle of Aubers on 9 May 1915 2nd Northants were a lead Battalion in the Northern Pincer attack but became bogged down in front of the German Lines and were withdrawn early the next morning when the battle was called off. He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 18 March 1916. The division was involved in the Battle of Albert (1-13 Jul 1916). Richard (Frank) was killed in action on 4 Mar 1917 during an attack near the village of Bouchavesnes in operations to capture ground at Moislains Ridge (near Peronne, Somme).
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. He is one 63 from the same Battalion named on the memorial who died the same day, many more are buried in nearby cemeteries. He was in receipt of long service and good conduct medals.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £15 and pay owing of £14 5s 3d. She also received a pension of £1 8s 9d a week for herself and her children. Widow's address given on pension records as Tooley's Row, Whitwell, Welwyn, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.greatwarforum.org
