TOPIC:

William Starrett was a man dedicated to service - from the Boer War until his services were no longer required in World War II.

William Starrett

Corporal, South African Constabulary (Anglo Boer War) and Transvaal Police
Sergeant, South African Police
Air Corporal, South African Air Force (WWII)


- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, SA 1901 & 1902 to 1913 Tpr. W. Starrett S.A.C.-
- War Medal 1939/45 to 65870 W. Starrett
- Africa Service Medal to 65870 W. Starrett
- South African Police Service Medal for Faithful Service to 458 (F) 1/C Sergeant W. Starret

William Starrett was born on 11 April 1881 at Frederick Terrace, Belfast in what is now known as Northern Ireland, the son of John Starret and his wife Jane (born Ewing). John Starret was a Shoemaker by trade.

According to the 1901 Census of Ireland the family were resident in Belfast East, County Antrim, in the Sub District of Donegall Pass.

Of Mrs. Starret there was no sign but proof of her prodigious child bearing ability was to be found in the form of her many children. Alongside the father was son John (25), William, a 19 year old Book keeper at the time, Henry (18), Alexander (16) and, Henrietta (14). This picture of domestic bliss was rounded off by the presence of Samuel Majury (son-in-law) and his wife Jennie together with 4 year old Dorothy and Mary Sproule, the Domestic Servant (and only Roman Catholic amongst all the Presbyterians) bringing up the rear.

It is not known what led young William to throw up his comfortable employment as a Book keeper and swap it for the heat and dust of the African Veld but that is precisely what he did. War between the Empire and the two upstart Boer Republics had broken out in October 1899 and was thus underway when William took passage to the Cape to join the ranks of the South African Constabulary.

Having arrived in the country he made his way to Heidelberg in the Transvaal where he enlisted with “C” the Eastern Division of the S.A.C. on 21 May 1901. Having been assigned no. 1913 he was given the rank of 3rd Class Trooper and set about his duties.

Physically he was described as being 5 foot 7 inches in height with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He had a slight tattoo on his left arm.

For his efforts he was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1901 & 1902.

After the cessation of hostilities on 31 May 1902 Starrett elected to continue in the service of the S.A.C. receiving promotions to Corporal on 10 November 1904.

On 1 July 1908, with the demise of the S.A.C., he transferred to the Transvaal Police with no. 458. 1908 was the same year that aged 27; he took as his bride, on 2 December at the Presbyterian Church in Krugersdorp, Ethel Elizabeth Butler.

On 1 August 1912 he was promoted to R/C/ Sergeant. January 1st 1913 found Starrett still stationed in what had become No. 39 District (Heidleberg) his tenure here was, however, at an end as he was transferred to No. 39 District (Johannesburg) on 17 September 1913.

Promotion to 1/Class Sergeant (book keeper) came on 1 March 1916.

Unlike many of his compatriots, Starrett continued with the S.A.P. despite the attraction of taking leave and enlisting for service in the Great War which raged from 4 August 1914 until 11 November 1918. Instead he continued with his Police duties earning for himself the S.A.P. medal for Faithful Service issued out of the Witwatersrand Division to him in 1924 for 18 years of consecutive, loyal and faithful service.

A year before, on 17 July 1923, his marriage to Ethel had sadly ended in divorce.

In a Minute signed by none other than the Prime Minister, J.B.M. Hertzog, dated 19 February 1931 the request was made for the approval of the retention of services for another 12 months of among other W. Starrett, after reaching 50 years of age.
Retirement, after 30 years of service (with one additional as above) loomed with the following article appearing in the Rand Daily Mail of 23 July 1932,

“Exemplary Service of Two Sergeants – there was a unique ceremony at the Central Police Barracks, Johannesburg, last evening, when two well-known sergeants of the South African Police, both Irishmen, received gifts on their retirement, in each case after 30 years service.

The two ex-members of the force thus honoured were Sergeant W. Starrett and Sergeant E. Adams, who joined the police in April and June respectively in 1902.

Sergeant Starrett was first in the S.A.C. attesting at Heidelberg, and subsequently serving at Standerton and in other parts of that area. Later he went on to the West Rand, under Colonel (then Captain) Godley. In the 1913 strike he did duty at Germiston and in Benoni, and since then served at Fordsburg and in the Johannesburg central area until his recent retirement.

There was a large gathering to bid them farewell from the force, and among those present were Colonel Jones (Deputy Commissioner of Police for the Witwatersrand), Major McLaren (District Commandant), Sub-Inspector Hepburn (O.C. Central area) and Mr. “Jock” Anderson.

Colonel Jones, on behalf of the officers and men, presented Sergeant Starrett with a dining-room clock with Westminster chimes, congratulating him on his exemplary service to the country.”

Having served his country well one would expect Starrett to have disappeared into the sunset to enjoy his twilight years this was, however, not to be the case.

Seven years later war clouds gathered once more and Britain and the Empire went to war with Germany on 6 September 1939. Starrett, by now a 59 year old, attested for service at Vootrekkerhoogte on 18 April 1940. He was assigned to the Special Services Reserve Battalion and given no. 65870 and the rank of Corporal.

Physically he was 5 feet 6 ½ inches tall, weighed 166 pounds and had grey blue eyes, a fresh complexion and grey hair. He was still divorced and had four children all over the age of 18. He provided his son, William Starrett of the S.A.R. Workshops Braamfontein as his next of kin and his personal address as the Union Club, (Box 1112), Johannesburg. He also divulged that he was employed by the Rand Daily Mail newspaper in the Works Department.

On 8 May 1940 he was transferred to “B” Company of the 1st S.S. Reserve Battalion at Voortrekkerhoogte being transferred to the Dispersal Depot, Central Army Training Depot, on 19 February 1941 being medically reclassified from Class C3 to E at the same time.


On 26 February that year he was moved to 69 Air School, S.A.A.F. at Germiston where he remained, mustered as a Military Policeman, until discharge on the grounds of being Medically Unfit on 30 May 1941. His character on discharge was reckoned to be Good with his Efficiency rated as Very Good.

Having seen only Union service Starrett was awarded the War Medal and Africa Service Medal. These were despatched to him on 23 February 1952 after the correct address, 26 Leicester Mansions, 207 Jeppe Street, Johannesburg had been confirmed.

Back in civilian life Starrett resumed his pre-war occupation before passing away at the Edenvale Hospital on 31 July 1955 at the age of 74 years and 3 months. At the time of his death he was resident at 11 Victoria Court, Eloff Street, Johannesburg.

According to the Death Certificate he died from Chronic Thrombosis, Chronic alcoholism and Parkinson’s disease. He was survived by his son William and daughters, Jessica Walton and Phyllis Lake.

Ethel whom he had divorced many years previously had stayed on friendly terms with him although she passed away in a car accident in Durban on the way to a 1953 Coronation celebration.

So ended the life of a man who saw service from the Boer War until the Second World War in various guises.