From Armoured Cars to Coldstream Guards

The outstanding military career of Dilwyn Starr



This book follows the military career and First World War experiences of Dilwyn Starr, a young American volunteer who was determined to fight for the allied cause in the Great War. It was written by Starr's father and his text is supported by his son's correspondence and journal entries. Starr's first attempt to join the war effort saw him working with the wounded in Europe with the American Volunteer Ambulance Service, but he was shortly given the opportunity to join the British Royal Navy Air Service serving with its armoured car force. He subsequently served with the armoured cars during the Gallipoli Campaign and Starr's time with this rarely reported arm of the Royal Navy makes compelling reading. After returning from Gallipoli, Starr was presented with two quite different opportunities. The first would allow him to become a pilot with the RFC whilst the other offered a commission in the prestigious British infantry regiment, The Coldstream Guards. Starr elected to become a guardsman and that decision took him to the trench warfare of the Western Front where he was killed in action. Starr's story is supported in this Leonaur edition by John Buchan's overview of the third stage of The Battle of the Somme, which is the focus of the final segment of the personal account. Contains images not present in the original edition.



Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.