Albert Starling

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, Albert died on 18th of September 1918 aged 29. 

Albert was born at Saint Ives, Huntingdonshire, on 10 June 1889, a son of William and Emily Starling. In 1891 his family lived at The Railway Station, Saint Mary Stoke, Ipswich. By 1895 they had moved to Ely and lived at The Railway Station, Ely, where is father was the station master. Albert attended Needhams School, Ely, from 14 January 1895. Albert began working for the Great Eastern Railway Company in 1904. In 1911 he lodged at Victoria Street, Ely, and he worked as a railway clerk. 

On 9 September 1912 Albert married Lilian Elvey Hunt at Saint Matthew’s Church, Ipswich. They lived at Ely. Lilian died in July 1913 and Albert then moved to Lowestoft where he worked as a goods clerk at Lowestoft Central Railway Station. In 1915 Albert married Florence Eliza Mary Jane Pope: this was registered in the Mutford district. Florence came from Littleport. Florence lived at 26 Salisbury Road, Lowestoft, before moving to Fodder Fen, Manea, March, Cambridgeshire. She married Harry Bendall in 1922. 

Albert enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in 1915. He joined the Army Service Corps, service number S2S4/03688, and arrived in France on 18 September 1915. He was transferred to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, service number A/202863. At some point her served with the 1st Battalion. In November 1917 he was part of C Company 17th Battalion and on 17 November 1917 had to receive medical treatment for trench feet. By September 1918 he was serving with the 2nd Battalion. 

On 18 September 1918 the 2nd Battalion were involved in an attack between the River Omignon, on their left, and the Maissemy – Berthaucort Road, on their right, with Berthaucourt and their final objective. The battalion was held up by machine-gun fire on both flanks but were able to fight their way through Berthaucourt. The battalion’s losses were 25 killed, including Albert, 99 wounded and six missing.