STARLING, Clarence Ranford

Clarence Starling was the son of Thomas and Eugenie Starling of 2 Brettell Lane, Amblecote. His father was the Sergeant at the Amblecote Police Station and he was a bank clerk and Server at Holy Trinity church. He enlisted on the 18th May 1916 and was sent to the 1/14th London Scottish in the 56th Division. They fought in four phases of the Battle of the Somme and Private Starling probably joined them when they were preparing for the April Battle of Arras. It opened on the 9th April and their objective was to breach the Hindenburg Line south of Arras. The problem was dealing with fortified villages like Neuville-Vitasse. Formidable efforts were made and major gains won but the struggle went on too long and the men wore exhausted. Clarence Starling was killed in action on the 16th, probably in the attempt to capture the next village of Guemappe. He was 19 years of age and is commemorated on the Arras, Amblecote and Amblecote church Memorials