Name
James Andrew Starkey
15 August 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/11/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Air Mechanic 1st Class
208863
Royal Air Force
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BISHOP'S HATFIELD (ST. LUKE) CHURCHYARD
South 3. 6.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Welwyn Garden City Memorial, Hatfield Hyde Village Memorial, St. Mary Magdalene Church Memorial, Hatfield Hyde, Dagmar House School Memorial, Hatfield, Not on the Bishops Hatfield memorials
Pre War
James Andrew Starkey was born on 15 August 1893 in Mill Green, Hatfield, Herts, the son of Alfred and Martha Starkey and one of six children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Mill Green, Hatfield where his father was working as a Blacksmith and machinist with his own company. They remained at Mill Green in 1911 and Alfred was listed as a student.
James Starkey was a pupil at the Hatfield Collegiate Schools, Dagmar House.
Wartime Service
James enlisted on 26 October 1915 and served with the Royal Naval Air Service as an Engineer. He was based at Cranwell, Lincolnshire from 1 April 1918.
He died on 6 November 1918 in the County Hospital, Lincoln from influenza and septicaemia and was buried on 9 November 1918 at St Luke's Churchyard, Hatfield, Herts.
The Bishops Hatfield Parish Magazine of December 1918, recorded: “We regret to announce the death of James Starkey, who died of pneumonia, while serving his King and Country at Lincoln. His body was brought to Hatfield and he was laid to rest among his own people, in company with those of our men whose bodies have been brought home to rest.”
Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Additional Information
The executors of his estate; his father Alfred Starkey, Thomas Starkey and Alfred Whitley received the war gratuity of £9 5s. His father received pay owing of £4 6s 11d.
The headstone inscription on the family grave in St Lukes Churchyard reads:
In loving memory.........
also our beloved son,
James Andrew Starkey AMI RAF
November 6th 1918, aged 25 years.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mr A Starkey (Father) of Mill Green, received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
