Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant-Commander W. H. Starling, Royal Navy

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Cr’s. Mte., H.M.S. Excellent), impressed naming; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, no clasp, unnamed as issued, generally good very fine (3) £200-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for Services at Sea from the Collection of the Late Oliver Stirling Lee.

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William Henry Starling was born at Portsea, Hampshire in February 1858 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in March 1873. Advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class in March 1883, he was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in March 1886 and witnessed active service aboard H.M.S. Scout in the Dongola expedition in 1896 - on his return to Vernon in December 1898 his service record was blemished by Their Lordships disapproval of the state of the 3-pounder guns returned from the Scout. Nonetheless, Starling was advanced to Chief Gunner in October 1908 and to Lieutenant in October 1911, but suffered the loss of his seniority in the latter rank when a Court Martial ‘partly proved’ a charge of theft while he was serving in Victory in February 1913 - he was placed on the Retired List a few days later. But the looming threat of hostilities witnessed his quick return to uniform with an appointment at Vernon, at which establishment he served for the remainder of the War, finally being demobilised as a Lieutenant-Commander in April 1920. Starling died in April 1930.