Born: 1888, Windhill
Died: July/August 1915
Buried:
Address: 18 Wycliffe Place, Saltaire Road, Shipley
Parents: Arthur and Emma
Spouse: Florence
Siblings: Florence, John
Occupation: Moulder, David Sowden & Sons, loom makers, Shipley
Organisations/clubs: Idle Victoria FC; Oddfellows
Military
Rank: Sgt
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: St Paul’s, Shipley
Children: one son
Regiment: 9 West Yorkshire
Fred Starkey
Fred Starkey was born in
Windhilll in 1888, the son of
Arthur and Emma. By 1891,
Emma was a widow living with
her three children at 7 Wellington
Street, Idle, and providing for her
family by being a laundress.
By the time of the 1911 census,
Fred and his wife of less than a
year, Florence, were in their new
home at 18 Wycliffe Place.
On 10 September 1915, the
Shipley Times & Express reported:
‘Sgt Fred Starkey of 9th West
Yorks Regiment, who lived at 18
Wycliffe Place, Saltaire Road,
Shipley, is officially reported to
have been killed in action at the
Dardanelles.
‘Deceased who was in his
twenty-eighth year and was
promoted to the rank of sergeant
on January 30th.
‘Prior to the war he was
employed as a moulder at Messrs
David Sowden and Sons, loom
makers, Shipley. He was a native
of Windhill and son of the late
Mr Arthur Starkey, who carried
on business as a clogger.
‘Sgt Starkey formerly played
with the Idle Victoria Football
Club and was a member of the
Tree of Life Lodge (Shipley
District, Manchester Unity of
Oddfellows). He leaves a widow
and one child, a boy four years of
age.’
A memorial service was held at
St Paul’s Church, Shipley for Fred
and another recently killed soldier,
George Parker.
Something of the impact the war
had on a small community both at
home and at the Front, are summed
up in a letter James Frear wrote just
before his own death, about seeing
his school pal Benny Clow killed in
front of him.
He added: ‘Another lad called
Starkey, who lived in Wycliffe
Road, Saltaire, was killed on the
spot by a piece of shrapnel.
‘Well it can’t be helped and there is
a consolation, the lads have died a
noble death. You must all cheer.’
