William Edward STARLING

Regimental number19730
Place of birthRichmond Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationCarpenter
Address85 Buckingham Street, Richmond, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Next of kinFather, J M Starling, 85 Buckingham Street, Richmond, Victoria
Previous military service20th Battery Australian Field Artillery
Enlistment date13 January 1916
Rank on enlistmentDriver
Unit nameField Artillery Brigade 8, Battery 29
AWM Embarkation Roll number13/36/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 20 May 1916
Rank from Nominal RollDriver
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Divisional Ammunition Column
FateReturned to Australia 11 May 1919
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: 8 November 1917

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal