in 1914 starr's brother, lieutenant dillwyn parrish starr (1884-1916), joined the british army as an officer in the 2nd coldstream guards. starr joined the united states voluntary aid programme in europe as a volunteer nurse and member of the french war emergency fund. in 1916, dillwyn starr died during the battle of the somme. starr, head of reconstruction of the civilian section of the somme region, was decorated by the french government with a silver medal, the "médaille de la reconnaissance francaise".