District Officer George William Starling SBStJ St John Ambulance and Air Raid Precautions
The Man George William Starling was born on Monday 10th April 1899 in Barlby, Yorkshire, son of Frederick William a Railway Ganger and Priscilla nee Pool. He was one of five children Gertrude (1897–1985), James Frederick 1901–1979), Harry (1907–1980) and Louisa (1909–1962) and Baptised on 28th May 1899 by the Reverend C W Hall in Barlby.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 71 Turnhead, Barlby and in 1911 at Heck, Snaith, George now aged 12. He may have seen service at home during the last part of World War I as he turned 18 in April 1917, or might have been medically unfit as he was awarded no medals.
The electoral register of 1922 shows George and his parents living at 90 Heck, Snaith, George having followed in his father footsteps and working for the London North Eastern Railways as a Signalman. During the third quarter of 1927 aged 28 he married Emily Strickland Duckels in Goole and they had one son, George William Starling junior born on 12th November 1928.
In 1938 the family moved to Whitley Bay and the 1939 Register shows George and his family living at 104 Beverley Road, Whitley Bay, he having joined the Air Raid Precautions as a Warden in preparation for World War II. He served with the ARP during the war possibly exempt once again, from military service because of his work on the railways or medical grounds, at the end of the war, was awarded the Defence Medal.
George joined the St John Ambulance Brigade at the Whitley Bay and Monkseaton Division on 1st July 1944 and promoted to Corporal in June 1949. He was appointed Divisional Treasurer in May 1952 and promoted to Sergeant in October 1955. In December 1956 he was appointed as Divisional Officer in the same division and in 1961 awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St John (medal number 11934/H).
In July 1962 he transferred to the Brigade Reserve List, but continuing to maintain his efficiency. In June 1969, aged 60 he was transferred to the Retired list, but kept an active interest in St.John, devoting many hours to the coverage of the Whitley Bay Promenade First Aid Post, which was the responsibility of the Whitley Bay Division.
In 1970 he had 15 attendances at division and 60 hours public duty. In 1971 23 attendances and 78 hours public duty, 1972 - 23 and 101, 1973 – 9 and 154, 1974 – 13 and 162, 1975 - 18 and 130.
He was described at age 66 as ‘Still a very active man and maintains a high interest in the work of St. John Ambulance’. George had also amassed 35 years’ service with the British Rail First Aid Centre.’
For his outstanding commitment he was appointed as a Serving Brother of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in 1976, his appointment appearing in the London Gazette of 26th April 1977 when George was aged 77 years old.
Emily passed away aged 76 in the last quarter of 1977 and George lived another six years, passing away aged 84 during the first quarter of 1984 in North Tyneside.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 71 Turnhead, Barlby and in 1911 at Heck, Snaith, George now aged 12. He may have seen service at home during the last part of World War I as he turned 18 in April 1917, or might have been medically unfit as he was awarded no medals.
The electoral register of 1922 shows George and his parents living at 90 Heck, Snaith, George having followed in his father footsteps and working for the London North Eastern Railways as a Signalman. During the third quarter of 1927 aged 28 he married Emily Strickland Duckels in Goole and they had one son, George William Starling junior born on 12th November 1928.
In 1938 the family moved to Whitley Bay and the 1939 Register shows George and his family living at 104 Beverley Road, Whitley Bay, he having joined the Air Raid Precautions as a Warden in preparation for World War II. He served with the ARP during the war possibly exempt once again, from military service because of his work on the railways or medical grounds, at the end of the war, was awarded the Defence Medal.
George joined the St John Ambulance Brigade at the Whitley Bay and Monkseaton Division on 1st July 1944 and promoted to Corporal in June 1949. He was appointed Divisional Treasurer in May 1952 and promoted to Sergeant in October 1955. In December 1956 he was appointed as Divisional Officer in the same division and in 1961 awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St John (medal number 11934/H).
In July 1962 he transferred to the Brigade Reserve List, but continuing to maintain his efficiency. In June 1969, aged 60 he was transferred to the Retired list, but kept an active interest in St.John, devoting many hours to the coverage of the Whitley Bay Promenade First Aid Post, which was the responsibility of the Whitley Bay Division.
In 1970 he had 15 attendances at division and 60 hours public duty. In 1971 23 attendances and 78 hours public duty, 1972 - 23 and 101, 1973 – 9 and 154, 1974 – 13 and 162, 1975 - 18 and 130.
He was described at age 66 as ‘Still a very active man and maintains a high interest in the work of St. John Ambulance’. George had also amassed 35 years’ service with the British Rail First Aid Centre.’
For his outstanding commitment he was appointed as a Serving Brother of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in 1976, his appointment appearing in the London Gazette of 26th April 1977 when George was aged 77 years old.
Emily passed away aged 76 in the last quarter of 1977 and George lived another six years, passing away aged 84 during the first quarter of 1984 in North Tyneside.
The Story The medals groups awarded to George William Starling Senior and Junior were acquired under somewhat circuitous circumstances during February 2023.
The medals appeared on E-Bay, the vendor having split the groups into three lots: 1. Starling senior’s medals. 2. Starling junior’s medals. 3. Starling juniors MBE award box.
The entire lot were of interest because of the Air Training Corps link and an MBE with the Cadet Forces Medal and associated newspaper cuttings and photographs. It was also important to ensure that father and son’s medals remained together for posterity. Contact was made with the vendor to see if he would accept an offer for all three lots, but this was declined.
Frustratingly the father’s medals and MBE box timed out in the auction before the MBE group, however a substantial bid was placed on Auction Sniper for all three lots to ensure their acquisition.
The bids on the Starling senior group and the MBE box were successful, but for technical reasons Auction Sniper had failed (for the first time) to send the bid for Starling junior’s group, thus they had been won for a very reasonable price by another bidder.
This was extremely annoying as the medals to Starling senior were not really desired without his son’s medals. The vendor however, was extremely understanding (especially following the previous contact) and agreed to cancel the sale and re-list the senior group. He also mentioned the son’s group had been acquired by Liverpool Medals. This immediately provided a ray of hope and he agreed to ‘hold’ the senior medals and MBE box until contact was made with the winner.
Liverpool medals confirmed they had won the medals and agreed to sell the Starling junior lot exactly as it had appeared on E-Bay, for a profit of course!
Thus, the father and son groups have been reunited for posterity, although Auction Sniper will never be trusted 100% again as the results could have been less favourable in many regards.
Some basic biographical detail from the paperwork with both groups, a trawl of Ancestry.UK and the Order of St John Museum in London enabled reasonable biographies to be completed on father and son.
The medals appeared on E-Bay, the vendor having split the groups into three lots: 1. Starling senior’s medals. 2. Starling junior’s medals. 3. Starling juniors MBE award box.
The entire lot were of interest because of the Air Training Corps link and an MBE with the Cadet Forces Medal and associated newspaper cuttings and photographs. It was also important to ensure that father and son’s medals remained together for posterity. Contact was made with the vendor to see if he would accept an offer for all three lots, but this was declined.
Frustratingly the father’s medals and MBE box timed out in the auction before the MBE group, however a substantial bid was placed on Auction Sniper for all three lots to ensure their acquisition.
The bids on the Starling senior group and the MBE box were successful, but for technical reasons Auction Sniper had failed (for the first time) to send the bid for Starling junior’s group, thus they had been won for a very reasonable price by another bidder.
This was extremely annoying as the medals to Starling senior were not really desired without his son’s medals. The vendor however, was extremely understanding (especially following the previous contact) and agreed to cancel the sale and re-list the senior group. He also mentioned the son’s group had been acquired by Liverpool Medals. This immediately provided a ray of hope and he agreed to ‘hold’ the senior medals and MBE box until contact was made with the winner.
Liverpool medals confirmed they had won the medals and agreed to sell the Starling junior lot exactly as it had appeared on E-Bay, for a profit of course!
Thus, the father and son groups have been reunited for posterity, although Auction Sniper will never be trusted 100% again as the results could have been less favourable in many regards.
Some basic biographical detail from the paperwork with both groups, a trawl of Ancestry.UK and the Order of St John Museum in London enabled reasonable biographies to be completed on father and son.
Medal Details:
- Serving Brother odf the Order of St John: DIV/OFF G.W.STARLING 1976
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Service Medal of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
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This page last updated 16 Apr 23
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