Eric Humphrey Starkey (c.1897 - 1918)

Eric Starkey was born in Kimberley, South Africa, in about 1897. He was the son of Frank Starkey and his wife Emily B. (Emily may have been his step-mother - the 1911 census is unclear.)

The family appear to have returned from South Africa between the 1901 and 1911 censuses. In 1911 the widowed Emily is living with her children in Basingstoke. Emily (who was born in Lichfield) eventually settled in Shropshire, living at Poole Cottage, The Batch, Bridgnorth.

Eric was living in Kingstone, Herefordshire, when he joined the Army. He served with the 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He went to France with the battalion in November, 1915. Eric would have seen plenty of action during the Somme battles of 1916, when his division was involved in the Battles of Flers-Courcelette, Le Transloy and others. After fighting in the Battles of Arras, 1917 his division was sent to Flanders and was involved in several phases of the Third Battle of Ypres. It was then moved to Italy for a period before being returned to France.

Eric was killed in action on 27th September, 1918 at the start of the Battle of the Canal du Nord - a phase of the Battle of the Hindenburg Line. He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.

Private Starkey, 447, was awarded the Victory and British medals and the 1915 Star.