Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred William Starmer, a general labourer, born 1847 in Cosby, Leicestershire and his wife Clara Jane Starmer (nee Wapples, married in the 4th quarter of 1870 in the Lutterworth, Leicestershire district), born 1852 in Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, Samuel Leslie, a schoolboy, was born in the 3rd quarter of 1893 in Cosby, his siblings were, Arthur, a shoe trade riveter, born 1872, William Thomas, a shoe trade riveter, born 1879, Abraham, a shoe trade riveter, born 1881, Edwin, a shoe trade riveter, born 1883, Walter, a shoe trade riveter, born 1885, Harriet, born 11th November 1886, Florence Margaret, a schoolgirl, born 1889 and Annie Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 7th June 1891, all his siblings were born in Cosby, in March 1901 the family home was at Coal Lane, Cosby. In April 1911 Samuel was employed as a brick maker and was residing in the family home at Cosby, together with his father, a concrete trade labourer, his mother and siblings William, a brick maker, Abraham, a shoe trade finisher, Walter, a brick maker and Annie. Samuel had further siblings, Alice, born 1874, in Cosby, William John, born 1876 in Cosby, who died in 1877 and Nellie Ivy, born 1902 in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
Samuel attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War.) on the 2nd September 1915 in Leicester. He gave his home address as Main Street, Cosby, his age as 22 years and 50 days and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Mr. William Starmer of Main Street, Cosby as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 33½ inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 23734 on the 2/9/15. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Barnard Castle on the 18/9/15. Posted to Rugeley Camp on the 2/11/15. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 16/2/16. Disembarked and proceeded to the 37th Infantry Brigade Depot at Etaples on the 17/2/16. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 19/2/16. Proceeded to join the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 28/2/16. Joined the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 29/2/16. Wounded in action, in the field on the 14/7/16. Admitted to the 64th Field Ambulance, suffering from a gunshot wound to the back, on the 18/7/16. Admitted to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station, in the field on the 18/7/16. Admitted to the 13th General Hospital in Boulogne on the 20/7/16. Transferred aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis, to England on the 22/7/16. Admitted to the Military Hospital in Dover suffering from a back wound to his left kidney and spine and paralyzed on the 22/7/16. Died of wounds on the 25/7/16. The following information was provided by Samuel’s mother Clara Starmer on the 17th June 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?-, Clerk in Holy Orders, Cosby Vicarage, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, William Starmer of Main Street, Cosby, Leicestershire. Mother of soldier, Clara Starmer of Main Street, Cosby, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, William Starmer, age 40 of Main Street, Cosby, Leicestershire. Abraham Starmer, age 38 of Main Street, Cosby, Leicestershire. Edwin Starmer, age 36 on active service. Walter Starmer, age 34 of Main Street, Cosby, Leicestershire. Full blood sisters of soldier, Alice Bruin, age 44 of Park Road, Blaby, Leicestershire. Eliza Palmer, age 46 of Back Lane, Cosby, Leicestershire. Harriett Swann, age 32 of Coal lane, Cosby, Leicestershire. Florence M. Merry, age 30 of Main Street, Cosby, Leicestershire. Annie E. Starmer, age 28 of Main Street, Cosby, Leicestershire. Samuel’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 14 Jul-16 - FRICOURT. Battalion moved off at 12.15am and moved up to the southern edge of MAMETZ WOOD. Fairly heavy shelling. They reached the reserve position MAMETZ WOOD 500 yards west of the front edge at 3.20am just as intense bombardment of German trenches began, and either went into existing trenches or dug in. At 5.20am “B” Company (Captain ANDERSON) and 1 platoon of “A” Company moved over to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD to reinforce the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. They finally reached the north of the wood of village and as far as possible dug themselves in. They were mixed up with the 6th, 7th and 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. Heavy casualties including all Company officers. At 6.00am remainder of “A” Company moved to German 1st line trench and started to consolidate it. 2 platoons of “C” Company taken to Brigade HQ for carrying. At 8.15am Lt. Col. HAIG with “D” Company and ½ of “C” Company moved to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. Lt. Col. HAIG had orders to take over defence on the north western and western edge of the wood which was being heavily shelled. At 8.45am “D” Company (Lt. NOLAN) directed on the north western corner of the wood to clear wood and dig in on the edge. 2 platoons of “C” Company in support trench with Battalion HQ. Between 9.00am and 12.00 noon “D” Company met with heavy opposition and reached forward support line but failed to clear wood. Lt. NOLAN was killed. Lt. de LISLE and Lt. SMITH were wounded. Between 12.00 noon and 3.00pm Germans threatened counter attack, very heavy shelling of all lines. “A” Company brought to Battalion HQ and 2 platoons sent to reinforce 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. At 12.00 noon Col. KUMME, 2 officers and 30 men captured by “D” Company. Between 4.00pm and 7.00pm Brigadier came and ordered all available men to attack the north western edge of the wood. Lt. Col. HAIG, Captain EMMETT and 2nd Lt. STEPHENS with about 50 men advanced roping in about 100 men of 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGT as supports. Captain EMMETT with 40 men reached the north western edge of the wood and killed 4 German observers and attempted to charge the German trenches 50 yards from the edge of the wood. Captain EMMETT and 36 men were killed by machine gun fire. Meanwhile Lt. Col. HAIG with the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGT and a few of the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT had reached the railway line and came under enfilade machine gun fire (Lt. STEPHENS was killed). The edge of the wood close to the village was cleared and a small drive was organised towards Captain EMMETTS party. They came under heavy sniping fire and Lt. HINCKLEY was wounded and most of his men killed or wounded. 7.00pm All posts started consolidating where they were. Patrols sent out constantly from the strong posts. Rough positions as below (On the Battalion Diary page a rough sketch shows the positions of the Companies) Between 9.00pm and 11.00pm heavy shelling and enemy rifle fire but no actual organised attack.