|
 Frank and Joseph were the two youngest sons of Charles and Annie. Frank started school at the age of three and six months later had measles resulting in the rest of his brothers and sisters having to stay away from school. His only misdemeanour was being late a couple of times. Frank met Kathleen Louise Cuzner during World War One nursing and was discharged from the war due to injuries sustained. ![[Image: Wedding of Frank Stark and Kathleen Louise Cuzner in Basingstoke in 1917]](images/frankstarks.gif) A photocopy of a photograph taken at their wedding in Basingstoke in 1917 is displayed alongside.
Joseph also started school at the age of three and left when he was 14 years old. Throughout his school years, he seems to have been a well-behaved child and in 1911 was presented with a book prize for good attendance. Joseph's godmother was Gertrude Tiarks and at the bottom of this page is a postcard sent on June 21st 1910 to Master Joe Starks (Joseph) of Loxton from his godmother in Italy, which reads :-
You will like a card from here ! This is the Chief Street of Venice We go up it in a steamer or boats My love to you all. We hope you are well - also Lizzie and her family. It is very hot here. We are leaving this week ...... Godmother G. Tiarks.
Six years after leaving school, at the age of 20 (photograph below), he was killed in action in World War One. Private 14937 Joseph Edward Starks, 1st/4th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment served in the forces in World War I, and was lost, believed killed in the battle at the Ypres Salient, Belgium. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing at Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. There are 35,000 names of officers and men on the Memorial whose graves are not known.
Annie Starks (nee Southwood) was obviously very fond of her family and wrote many letters to her sons. The following are examples, most are to Joseph her youngest son but one is to Samuel :-
Dec 25th 1913
My Dear Boy
I expect you will be surprised to see I have got £6 12s 11d on your Bank Book I have been saving this for years for you and I intended to make it up to £7 and give it to you on your 17 Birthday if I could have persuaded you not to smoak till then but I know how it is when you are out with other young men and I didn't like to be hard on you so I gave in because I know you have tried to be a good lad and do the best you can since you have been out in service and I hope and trust you will still go on trying I think Frank is trying to save and I thought if I give you this as a Xmas box it would be a nice little nest egg and encourage you to put some more to it I want you to try and make £10 of it by the time you are 20 if things go on allright Now Dear Joe this is what I have done for you I want you to do three things for me at least for my sake and yours to the first is dont smoak much untill you are older because it is no good to your health and a strain on your pocket try and make one Packet a week do when you are going out of an evening only put 2 or 3 in your case then you cant pass it round to many act a bit like Birt Ham be carefull there a dear Boy and dont let none of your mates entice you away to the Pub say to have a game of rings and a drink that will mean just a lead on dont you go Joe have courage my Boy to say NO and be sure and dont be led away with the girls I should be sorry if you went wrong in anyway you dont know how much I love you at least I dont love you more than the others but I must say I have got you more on my mind because you are young and you will find you will have lots of temptations between now and 20 I was glad when the others got over that age you get more since then mind what Frank told you on his letter Dont get Burned he have seen more of the world he knows you got to be careful so I suppose he thought he would give you a word of good advice Now my Dear Boy I must say goodnight may God bless you and keep you ever under his loving care M
............................................................................... ![[Image: Joe Starks]](images/joestarks.jpg)
'no date given'
Dear Joe you must take the Book to the Post Office and ask them to put it over in your name you see I am in trust for you but you are old enough to take care of it you no need to say anything about it as it is between you and I what says Frank no ocation to say anything about it but I do hope you will take care of it and try and put some more to it you will wont you Joe
...............................................................................
Dear Joe this is the moto I gave Frank when he went away
Shun evel Companions
bad Language disdain
Gods name hold in Reverance
nor take it in vain
Be cheerful and honest
kindhearted and true
Look ever to Jessus
He will carry you through
...............................................................................
'no date given but after the death of Joe in October 1917'
My Dear Sam
This is a few Hankerchievs for you becaus you wouldn't take the money for the Fire Insurance I wont ride a free horse to death but mind it isent a Christmas Box because I cant affored that all the way round and I never show no favour so if the children want to know where the came from tell them from a friend of yours then the wont know nothing but I had to do it just to relieve my feelings and this is another thing I shant be Happy about till I have carried out Dear Joes orders or rather what He asked to do when Frank was married he wrote and ask me to get Him a wedding present cost about 10/- and he would pay me when He came out of the trenches well before I had carried out his wish the Dear Boy went Home to be with Jesus yes and I believe he is with Him to He wasent one of the world well I thought His poto would [please] Frank better than anything esle so I ask you to get it with the others so you did but I have never finished Paying you for it and I am sure Joe would be vexed if he knew considering what we get weekly for the great Sacrifice He made I have thought a lot about it laitly and I shant be Happy till I have Paid you If you remember Sam I gave you 10/- toward the Poto at the time the were took then the were so long being framed and we have had a long time I am ashamed I havent done it before after all your trouble and kindness in giving as I have sent 10/- I think you said that was what you paid now you musent be cross because I shall feel much Happier This is only between you and I.
Lots of Love M.
............................................................................... ![[Image: Postcard from Gertrude Tiarks]](images/joepostcard.jpg)
For information or comments contact marion@loxtonsomerset.org.uk  or please drop a note in the visitors' book just to let us know that you have called. If you have an interest in the site and would like to be kept informed of any future additions, amendments etc., please subscribe to our mailing list by entering your e-mail address in the box on the homepage. You can always choose to unsubcribe later by making the necessary amendment to the selection and entering the e-mail address that you wish removed.
|
next