Pte
Patrick James Starr
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1895 |
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Place of birth: Footscray, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Clerk |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 3465 |
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Enlistment date: 02/08/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 6th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Retaliation Farm, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Bay 7 stone M |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Patrick James Starr served with the 6th Battalion AIF (part of the 1st Australian Division, 2nd Australian Brigade). The former clerk enlisted on the 2nd August 1915 in Melbourne, VIC, age 20. In October 1915 he sailed from Australia to Egypt and served at the Western Front together with 3 of his brothers: Michael Francis, Philip Henry and John Robert. They were the sons of Mary Starr and the late Michael Starr from Healsville, Victoria.
The 1st Australian Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase of the Third Battle of Ypres 1917. The Division had to advance on the right of the village of Zonnebeke and had to capture and secure the Broodseinde Ridge and a part of the Passchendaele-Beselare Road. Its attack was carried by two Brigades. The 1st Australian Brigade and 2nd Australian Brigade. The 2nd Australian Brigade firstly attacked with the 8th Battalion. Once they had captured the first objective the 6th and 7th Battalions would move through to the second objective.
The 6th battalion moved into position at about 02.00 a.m. on 4 October 1917. While the Battalion was waiting till the sign to attack the German artillery laid down a very heavy barrage on the line. Many Australians were caught in the open and the Battalions in the line suffered heavy casualties. The German shelling did not indicate any pre-knowledge of an Australian attack, but was a precursor to a German attack that was due to commence coincidentally with the Australian attack. When the German infantry attacked they were caught in the allied barrage, which preceded the Australian assault. The barrage drove everything beyond it, inflicting very heavy casualties on the German defenders. The German soldiers had almost no place to hide. The ones that did survive the heavy shelling were quickly dispersed, killed or taken prisoner by the advancing troops. Even the Germans in the concrete strongpoints were utterly shocked. Most of them surrendered without putting up a fight.
The main resistance of the 6th Battalion’s advance came from a large crater, near Retaliation Farm, in which a pill-box was situated. This position supported by other nearby posts. Bombing parties of the 6th Battalion quickly outflanked the positions and eventually managed to silence or capture the defenders.
Meanwhile the 8th Battalion had advanced through the marsh and tree stumps of Romulus and Remus Woods, north of the hamlet of Molenaarelsthoek. They arrived at the first objective, the red line, around 07.15 a.m. Around 08.00 a.m. the 7th and 6th Battalions moved through the 8th Battalion and carried on the advance. They quickly captured the summit of the ridge. While passing west of Celtic Wood, the 6th Battalion was now fired upon from distant machine gun positions on the Keiberg. At one stage the advance on Celtic Wood was halted by a German strongpoint. It was silenced by a Lewis gun team and by noon, the Australians had consolidated their positions astride the ridge. No counter-attacks were launched and the battalion kept on holding the line till they were relieved on the next day.
Private Patrick James Starr, age 22, was reported killed in action during the attack on 4 October.
In his Red Cross Wounded and Missing File is stated by Lt. Col. F.T. Ulrich, Commanding Officer of the 6th Battalion A.I.F.: „While waiting for the attack on the morning of the 4th Oct.17 No. 3465 Pte P.J. Starr, 6th Bn. the Germans put down a heavy barrage, and during the barrage, Pte Starr was hit by a shell and piece passing through his head, killing him instantaneously. His burial is not known.“ In the Red Cross Wounded and Missing file of his brother Michael Francis is mentioned that Patrick James was buried 600 yards south east of Zonnebeke, a few yards east of debris called Retaliation Farm, this grave is midway between two small woods (Romulus & Remus, 28.D.28.d.4.7.).
After the war his body was never recovered. Today he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Bay 7, stone M.
His older brother Michael Francis Starr, also in the 6th Bn. AIF, was killed in action that same day. He too is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial. Two other brothers Philip Henry and John Robert returned safely to Australia.
The 1st Australian Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase of the Third Battle of Ypres 1917. The Division had to advance on the right of the village of Zonnebeke and had to capture and secure the Broodseinde Ridge and a part of the Passchendaele-Beselare Road. Its attack was carried by two Brigades. The 1st Australian Brigade and 2nd Australian Brigade. The 2nd Australian Brigade firstly attacked with the 8th Battalion. Once they had captured the first objective the 6th and 7th Battalions would move through to the second objective.
The 6th battalion moved into position at about 02.00 a.m. on 4 October 1917. While the Battalion was waiting till the sign to attack the German artillery laid down a very heavy barrage on the line. Many Australians were caught in the open and the Battalions in the line suffered heavy casualties. The German shelling did not indicate any pre-knowledge of an Australian attack, but was a precursor to a German attack that was due to commence coincidentally with the Australian attack. When the German infantry attacked they were caught in the allied barrage, which preceded the Australian assault. The barrage drove everything beyond it, inflicting very heavy casualties on the German defenders. The German soldiers had almost no place to hide. The ones that did survive the heavy shelling were quickly dispersed, killed or taken prisoner by the advancing troops. Even the Germans in the concrete strongpoints were utterly shocked. Most of them surrendered without putting up a fight.
The main resistance of the 6th Battalion’s advance came from a large crater, near Retaliation Farm, in which a pill-box was situated. This position supported by other nearby posts. Bombing parties of the 6th Battalion quickly outflanked the positions and eventually managed to silence or capture the defenders.
Meanwhile the 8th Battalion had advanced through the marsh and tree stumps of Romulus and Remus Woods, north of the hamlet of Molenaarelsthoek. They arrived at the first objective, the red line, around 07.15 a.m. Around 08.00 a.m. the 7th and 6th Battalions moved through the 8th Battalion and carried on the advance. They quickly captured the summit of the ridge. While passing west of Celtic Wood, the 6th Battalion was now fired upon from distant machine gun positions on the Keiberg. At one stage the advance on Celtic Wood was halted by a German strongpoint. It was silenced by a Lewis gun team and by noon, the Australians had consolidated their positions astride the ridge. No counter-attacks were launched and the battalion kept on holding the line till they were relieved on the next day.
Private Patrick James Starr, age 22, was reported killed in action during the attack on 4 October.
In his Red Cross Wounded and Missing File is stated by Lt. Col. F.T. Ulrich, Commanding Officer of the 6th Battalion A.I.F.: „While waiting for the attack on the morning of the 4th Oct.17 No. 3465 Pte P.J. Starr, 6th Bn. the Germans put down a heavy barrage, and during the barrage, Pte Starr was hit by a shell and piece passing through his head, killing him instantaneously. His burial is not known.“ In the Red Cross Wounded and Missing file of his brother Michael Francis is mentioned that Patrick James was buried 600 yards south east of Zonnebeke, a few yards east of debris called Retaliation Farm, this grave is midway between two small woods (Romulus & Remus, 28.D.28.d.4.7.).
After the war his body was never recovered. Today he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Bay 7, stone M.
His older brother Michael Francis Starr, also in the 6th Bn. AIF, was killed in action that same day. He too is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial. Two other brothers Philip Henry and John Robert returned safely to Australia.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Michael Francis Starr
Brother |
Sources 8
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"Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 98-99 Sources used |
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AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=286337 Sources used |
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AWM https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=starr&people_service_number=3465&people_unit= Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1601321/PATRICK%20JAMES%20STARR/ Sources used |
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Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8093665 Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/1st-australian-division/ Sources used |
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War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1342950 Sources used |
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War Diary 2nd Brigade https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1346444?image=31 Sources used |