- SURNAME
Starling
- FORENAME
John Geoffrey
- UNIT
Parachute Regiment (HQ 44 Para Bde (TA) (MBE)) / (HQ South West District (CBE))
- RANK
Major (MBE), Brigadier (CBE)
- NUMBER
361898
- AWARD
Member of the Order of the British Empire, Mention in Despatches, Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- PLACE
1966 (MBE), South Arabia (MiD) 1980 (CBE)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 1928
1946 joined Army
1947-1948 attended Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
1948 2nd Lt Suffolf Regiment
holder MC (as 2nd Lt, serving with Suffolk Regiment in Malaya 1949)
served Middle East, Far East, including Malaya
1950 School of Infantry
1950 Lieutenant
1954 Captain (1 East Anglican Regiment (Royal Norfolk and Suffolk)
1959 Temporary Major
1961 Parachute Regiment as Major
1966 served Cyprus
1967 served Aden
1968 served Northern Ireland, Lieutenant Colonel
1972 Regimental Colonel
1978-1981 Staff of General Alexander Haig
1982 retired
1982-1987 Secretary, Western Wessex Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Association
London Gazette 44004, 3rd June 1966, Page 6536 (MBE)
London Gazette 44508, 19th January 1968, Page 877 (MiD)
awarded CBE
died 1996
CITATION:
Military Cross (with Suffolk Regiment) : On 30 Nov 1949 2/Lieut Starling was in command of a patrol operating on the jungle edge about 8 miles North of KUALA LUMPUR. Starting at dawn the patrol had been moving through very difficult country for five miles without a halt when at midday as they were climbing a steep hill in open formation they came under fire from several bandits. Fire was immediately returned while a party led by 2/Lieut Starling moved round to a flank and charged up a very steep and overgrown hill with great speed and determination. The bandits completely surprised, turned and fled incontinently, abandoning everything except their clothing and arms
At the top of the hill a track leading away from the position was found and 2/Lieut Starling set off to follow this up at all possible speed. This track through thick undergrowth led them to a camp after about a mile which was covered in 15 minutes. This camp was empty but just beyond over a further ridge a large camp was found in which some bandits were seen to be in the process of packing. The only entry to the camp was up a steep and narrow stairway in a high bank and up this 2/Lieut Starling led his patrol in a charge. On reaching the top bandits were seen only 15 yards away and 2/Lieut Starling immediately opened fire wounding one bandit; his fire was returned by several automatic weapons and from one of these (a Sten Gun) he received a slight wound in the face. In spite of this his immediate reaction was to continue his advance firing as went and shouting to his patrol words to the effect that he had been hit which was all the more reason for destroying the bandits. Unfortunately when faced with this charge, bandits showed greater speed than courage the and though blood trails were followed for a considerable time these were eventually lost. On completion of the engagement In spite of his wound 2/Lieut Starling walked two miles to a telephone to report what had occurred and then returned to his patrol and carried out a most thorough and painstaking search of the area for several hours during which anything of value was collected. He brought his patrol back to its base an hour after dark and even then it was only after seeing them settled down for the night that he allowed himself to rest and got his wound attended to.
Throughout the engagement 2/Lieut Starling showed a very high degree of personal courage, skill and leadership while his endurance and energy throughout the day were worthy of the highest praise. His complete disregard for his own safety and his great drive and enthusiasm were an inspiration to all the members of his patrol.
Apart from this particular operation, 2/Lieut Starling, throughout the time he has been on operations in Malaya, has consistently shown a standard of skill and energy and leadership in commanding his platoon which has earned him the respect and admiration of all ranks.
Place : S. Serai V.P. 6410 Hind
Date of Action : 30th November 1949
How Employed : Platoon Commander
Member of the Order of the British Empire : Major STARLING was commissioned in the SUFFOLK Regiment in October 1948 and served with the 1st Battalion in GREECE and during the emergency in MALAYA. In the latter theatre he was awarded the Military Cross for his part in a particularly gallant action. In August 1962 he transferred to the Permanent Cadre of the Parachute Regiment, and commanded a rifle company extremely well during the emergency operations in CYPRUS in 1964 before being posted to 44 Independent Parachute Brigade as DAA&QMG in June of that year.
During the past twenty months Major STARLING has devoted the whole of his energy, knowledge and experience to meeting the needs of individuals and units. He has done, this at great personal sacrifice, and his efforts. on behalf of the formation have gone far beyond what is normally expected of a staff officer in peacetime.
He has spent an immense amount of his time visiting units dispersed throughout ENGLAND and SCOTLAND from FARNHAM Surrey to ABERDEEN. In the course of such visits he has not only vastly improved the administration of the units concerned but he has also become well aquainted with a large number of their officers and other ranks. It is no exaggeration to say that he is regarded as the best DAA&QMG that this Brigade has known by those who have served in it since it was formed, and he has earned their unbounded respect as well as becoming immensely popular.
Although more than fully occupied by his many and varied duties as DAA&QMG, Major STARLING unhesitatingly volunteered to command a Company Group which took part in a 3rd Division exercise in LIBYA in October 1965. It was necessary for a Regular Officer to command as a TA Officer could not attend the frequent pre-exercise conferences. The Company did outstandingly well throughout the exercise, and much of the credit for this was due to Major STARLING who did not spare himself throughout the three weeks concerned.
For the past five months he has been entirely responsible for the staff work involved in the many efforts made to retain this Brigade on the forth coming reorganisation of the TA. The subsequent reprieve of the formation was due in no small measure to the untiring efforts of Major STARLING who drafted the large number of papers that were inevitably required to provide justification for the Brigade's retention. Much of this work had of necessity to be completed "out of hours".
Major STARLING's devotion to duty has been of immense benefit to the Units and individuals of this Brigade, and it is strongly recommended that his outstanding services be recognised by an appropriate award. Such recognition would meet with the unqualified approval of all ranks within the formation.
Place : London
Date of Action : June 1964 - February 1966
How Employed : DAA & QMG HQ 44 Parachute Brigade (TA)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire : Brigadier Starling has now been Deputy Commander South West District for 2 years. Some 10 major and 15 minor Regular and TA units come directly under his command; he has been Commander Bulford and Tidworth Garrison - the largest single military concentration in the United Kingdom - and he holds special responsibility for the 220 ACF and CCF units in the District which contain over 11,000 young men.
He has effected a remarkable transformation in all the areas of his responsibility since taking up his appointment and, in so doing, his name has become synonymous in the District with the ideals of dedication, enthusiasm and service. Not only in the hierarchy of the TA and Cadet organisations but right down to individual soldiers and cadets he is held in the highest respect and spoken of with awe but with the deepest affection. He has achieved miracles for their morale and their efficiency.
That this is so is because of the almost incredible amount of time and effort he has been prepared to expend on their behalf. Often driving himself over very long distances he has given up innumerable evenings in each week and one weekend after another - once no less than twelve in a row to visiting training or to giving instruction and encouragement; and all this has been in addition to the outstanding performance of his endless and diverse duties as Deputy District and Garrison Commander and also to his services to the British and Army Parachute Associations which could alone justify recognition.
From December 1979 to March 1980 the duties of GOC South West District devolved upon him in the absence of the GOC in Rhodesia. His efforts were prodigious; he continued to carry out all his normal tasks with no diminution of enthusiasm and yet managed to exercise command and direct the staff with full success. He is an officer of outstanding energy and loyalty.
The range of his achievement is thus enormous but is commensurate with the quite exceptional effort and selfless devotion he has been prepared to put into it. From Lord-Lieutenants to 13 year old cadets, the recognition of his outstanding service by an award would be universally acclaimed with delight, as it would also be by every serving officer in the District. He leads by example and is himself an example of leadership: indeed he sets a standard, all too seldom seen, of totally unselfish service to a cause and to others with no thought whatever of the cost to himself.
Place : South West District
Date of Action : 16th June 1978 - 1st June 1980
How Employed : Deputy Commander South West District
At the top of the hill a track leading away from the position was found and 2/Lieut Starling set off to follow this up at all possible speed. This track through thick undergrowth led them to a camp after about a mile which was covered in 15 minutes. This camp was empty but just beyond over a further ridge a large camp was found in which some bandits were seen to be in the process of packing. The only entry to the camp was up a steep and narrow stairway in a high bank and up this 2/Lieut Starling led his patrol in a charge. On reaching the top bandits were seen only 15 yards away and 2/Lieut Starling immediately opened fire wounding one bandit; his fire was returned by several automatic weapons and from one of these (a Sten Gun) he received a slight wound in the face. In spite of this his immediate reaction was to continue his advance firing as went and shouting to his patrol words to the effect that he had been hit which was all the more reason for destroying the bandits. Unfortunately when faced with this charge, bandits showed greater speed than courage the and though blood trails were followed for a considerable time these were eventually lost. On completion of the engagement In spite of his wound 2/Lieut Starling walked two miles to a telephone to report what had occurred and then returned to his patrol and carried out a most thorough and painstaking search of the area for several hours during which anything of value was collected. He brought his patrol back to its base an hour after dark and even then it was only after seeing them settled down for the night that he allowed himself to rest and got his wound attended to.
Throughout the engagement 2/Lieut Starling showed a very high degree of personal courage, skill and leadership while his endurance and energy throughout the day were worthy of the highest praise. His complete disregard for his own safety and his great drive and enthusiasm were an inspiration to all the members of his patrol.
Apart from this particular operation, 2/Lieut Starling, throughout the time he has been on operations in Malaya, has consistently shown a standard of skill and energy and leadership in commanding his platoon which has earned him the respect and admiration of all ranks.
Place : S. Serai V.P. 6410 Hind
Date of Action : 30th November 1949
How Employed : Platoon Commander
Member of the Order of the British Empire : Major STARLING was commissioned in the SUFFOLK Regiment in October 1948 and served with the 1st Battalion in GREECE and during the emergency in MALAYA. In the latter theatre he was awarded the Military Cross for his part in a particularly gallant action. In August 1962 he transferred to the Permanent Cadre of the Parachute Regiment, and commanded a rifle company extremely well during the emergency operations in CYPRUS in 1964 before being posted to 44 Independent Parachute Brigade as DAA&QMG in June of that year.
During the past twenty months Major STARLING has devoted the whole of his energy, knowledge and experience to meeting the needs of individuals and units. He has done, this at great personal sacrifice, and his efforts. on behalf of the formation have gone far beyond what is normally expected of a staff officer in peacetime.
He has spent an immense amount of his time visiting units dispersed throughout ENGLAND and SCOTLAND from FARNHAM Surrey to ABERDEEN. In the course of such visits he has not only vastly improved the administration of the units concerned but he has also become well aquainted with a large number of their officers and other ranks. It is no exaggeration to say that he is regarded as the best DAA&QMG that this Brigade has known by those who have served in it since it was formed, and he has earned their unbounded respect as well as becoming immensely popular.
Although more than fully occupied by his many and varied duties as DAA&QMG, Major STARLING unhesitatingly volunteered to command a Company Group which took part in a 3rd Division exercise in LIBYA in October 1965. It was necessary for a Regular Officer to command as a TA Officer could not attend the frequent pre-exercise conferences. The Company did outstandingly well throughout the exercise, and much of the credit for this was due to Major STARLING who did not spare himself throughout the three weeks concerned.
For the past five months he has been entirely responsible for the staff work involved in the many efforts made to retain this Brigade on the forth coming reorganisation of the TA. The subsequent reprieve of the formation was due in no small measure to the untiring efforts of Major STARLING who drafted the large number of papers that were inevitably required to provide justification for the Brigade's retention. Much of this work had of necessity to be completed "out of hours".
Major STARLING's devotion to duty has been of immense benefit to the Units and individuals of this Brigade, and it is strongly recommended that his outstanding services be recognised by an appropriate award. Such recognition would meet with the unqualified approval of all ranks within the formation.
Place : London
Date of Action : June 1964 - February 1966
How Employed : DAA & QMG HQ 44 Parachute Brigade (TA)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire : Brigadier Starling has now been Deputy Commander South West District for 2 years. Some 10 major and 15 minor Regular and TA units come directly under his command; he has been Commander Bulford and Tidworth Garrison - the largest single military concentration in the United Kingdom - and he holds special responsibility for the 220 ACF and CCF units in the District which contain over 11,000 young men.
He has effected a remarkable transformation in all the areas of his responsibility since taking up his appointment and, in so doing, his name has become synonymous in the District with the ideals of dedication, enthusiasm and service. Not only in the hierarchy of the TA and Cadet organisations but right down to individual soldiers and cadets he is held in the highest respect and spoken of with awe but with the deepest affection. He has achieved miracles for their morale and their efficiency.
That this is so is because of the almost incredible amount of time and effort he has been prepared to expend on their behalf. Often driving himself over very long distances he has given up innumerable evenings in each week and one weekend after another - once no less than twelve in a row to visiting training or to giving instruction and encouragement; and all this has been in addition to the outstanding performance of his endless and diverse duties as Deputy District and Garrison Commander and also to his services to the British and Army Parachute Associations which could alone justify recognition.
From December 1979 to March 1980 the duties of GOC South West District devolved upon him in the absence of the GOC in Rhodesia. His efforts were prodigious; he continued to carry out all his normal tasks with no diminution of enthusiasm and yet managed to exercise command and direct the staff with full success. He is an officer of outstanding energy and loyalty.
The range of his achievement is thus enormous but is commensurate with the quite exceptional effort and selfless devotion he has been prepared to put into it. From Lord-Lieutenants to 13 year old cadets, the recognition of his outstanding service by an award would be universally acclaimed with delight, as it would also be by every serving officer in the District. He leads by example and is himself an example of leadership: indeed he sets a standard, all too seldom seen, of totally unselfish service to a cause and to others with no thought whatever of the cost to himself.
Place : South West District
Date of Action : 16th June 1978 - 1st June 1980
How Employed : Deputy Commander South West District
WEB LINKS:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44004/supplement/6536 (MBE)https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44508/supplement/878 (MiD)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7621713 (MC non Parachute Regiment)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7630934 (MBE)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7634420 (CBE)
NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7621713 (MC)https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7630934 (MBE)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7634420 (CBE)
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