Hi i am trying to find out, any information on 560403 F/Sgt. J.J.Startin Raf. I believe he was a pow in the far east. Any help please, to confirm if he was a pow. Thanks Mick
What other details of him do you have - doesnt seem to appear on the databases I have access to - have you date of birth, date of death, what the initials 'J J' are, even small details can help TD
Not shown on the Cofepow website for completing a Liberation Questionnaire. I can no longer access their actual POW alphabetical listing, but not everyone filled out a Lib. Q. so could well have been a POW.
TD & Everyone, thanks for looking for me. I mainly collect to the Army, but fancied a group to the Raf.
It should be John James Sartin 560403 RAF, captured in Java. I've not seen a Liberation Questionnaire for him, but the book 'Unsung Heroes' has him listed as having served with 81 RSU RAF.
A possible John James Sartin Birth: 1910 - Liverpool, Lancashire, England Death: Sep 1968 - Colchester, Essex, England Marriage: 1931 Spouse: Margery V E Fuller F: Louis Edwin Sartin M: Annie Amlott Kitchen So he would be 16 when he started his apprenticeship TD
#3. The catalogue description is either incomplete or has an error. Since he was captured in Java he would be entitled to the Pacific Star. If he already has a Burma Star then this would be shown by the addition of a 'Pacific' Bar of which there is no mention. Either that or they have confused Burma and Pacific Stars. Tim
I was pondering the exact same thing Tim. In fact before we knew the correct spelling of the surname, I went through my Rangoon Jail POW list to see if he was there, due mainly to the mention of the Burma Star.
Just to back up the earlier posts on the medals Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility The Pacific Star The Pacific Star is awarded for operational service in Malaya, Singapore, China, Hong Kong or Sumatra between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. To apply for the Pacific Star, you must have: 1 day of operational service in the army 1 day of operational service as ground crew in the RAF 1 operational sortie as aircrew in the RAF 1 day afloat in operational areas in the Royal Navy and already qualified for the 1939 to 1945 Star The colours of the ribbon represent the jungle, the beaches and the 3 services. If you also qualify for the Burma Star, you will only be awarded the first star you earned. You will then receive a clasp with the title of the second star earned, which is worn on the ribbon of the first. The Burma Star The Burma Star is awarded for operational service in Burma between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Those serving in Bengal and Assam in India and China, Hong Kong, Malaya or Sumatra between other specified dates may also qualify. To apply for the Burma Star, you must have: 1 day of operational service in the army 1 day of operational service as ground crew in the RAF 1 operational sortie as aircrew in the RAF 1 day afloat in operational areas in the Royal Navy and already qualified for the 1939 to 1945 Star The colours of the ribbon represent the sun, British and Commonwealth forces. If you also qualify for the Pacific Star, you will only be awarded the first star earned. You will then receive a clasp with the title of the second star earned which is worn on the ribbon of the first. TD
81 RSU RAF was formed in September 1941 at Seletar, and he was captured when Java surrendered in March 42. Very unlikely that he could have been awarded a Burma Star, and even if it is correct, it should then have the Pacific clasp. Perhaps someone put the medal group together, in error, to match the named items, which seems to happen quite alot.