Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Løytnant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

S Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Citation:
This officer served for six years in the Norwegian Mercantile Marine as an Officer and W/T Operator. He was at the Navigation School when Norway was invaded, joined the Army but was captured after a fortnight. He then went back to the Navigation School and took his Mate's Certificate.

He then decided to proceed to Great Britain and made his way into Sweden, but found his prospects of getting to the United Kingdom that way very remote. He returned to his home and, together with two of his friends, bought a small motor boat and, pint by pint, purchased and stole sufficient oil to enable them to make the journey. They set out from Farsund and arrived at Aberdeen on 17th August, 1940.

All three were recruited for work in Norway and sent for training. His two friends with one other were sent back in November, 1940, but on arrival in Norway were captured and executed. Starheim pressed to be sent out to investigate the whole case. He was taken over by submarine at the beginning of December, 1940, and put into a canoe outside Farsund. Although the canoe was half filled with water and he was suffering from a severe attack of influenza, he managed to get himself and his wireless set ashore undamaged. He trekked 25 miles overland in a semi-frozen condition before he could lie up.

Starheim remained in Norway until July, 1941. In the course of this periode he did most valuable work organising resistance, and sent out over a hundred wireless messages, some of them containing information of the highest importance. During the last few weeks the enemy made a continuous search for his location, but despite their presence in the neighbourhood he continued to stick to his post until it became untenable. he escaped into Sweden, leaving another operator behind, and arrived back in the United Kingdom. He was commissioned as a 2/Lieutenant in the Royal Norwegian Army in August 1941, in recognition of his services.

Unfortunately no messages came through from the operator who had taken his place and it was decided to send Starheim back to re-establish contact. After considerable delay, owing to climate conditions, he and a companion were dropped by air on January 2nd, 1942, in mountainous and difficult country. in a week's time they made their way to Starheim's area of operations, where he re-established all his contacts and wireless communication with the United Kingdom.
Starheim repeated his former valuable work, in the course of which he visted Oslo. There he was arrested and taken by the Gestapo for examination,a and his papers taken from him. When the opportunity presented itslef he seized his papers, jumped out of a second-story window and escaped from Oslo. He experienced considerable difficulty in returning to his own area, and after arriving there signalled for tansport to be sent out to bring him back to the United Kingdom. An attempt was made by fishing boat, but was ineffective owing to the presence of ice on the coast.

A signal was therefore sent to Starheim to make his was into Sweden. Deciding that as he had already been to Sweden twice under different names it was too dangerous or him to attempt it a third time, he planned to make his own escape. He laid plans with five of his friends to embark on the 600-ton coastal steamer "GALTESUND" as passengers. When the boat put out they imprisoned the Captain in his cabin, rounded up the crew of twenty, and set course for Aberdeen. The enemy missed the boat from its proper course, but foggy weather enabled Starheim to elude the pursuing planes and ships. Before capturing the "GALTESUND" he had written out a signal to be sent half an hour after she sailed, asking for air protection from the United Kingdom. The "GALTESUND" eventually arrived safely in Aberdeen.

2/Lieutenant Starheim had displayed remarkable courage and endurance in the most difficult conditions during the whole period of eighteen months that he has been working for S.O.E., during which he has done most valuable work.

I strongly recommend 2/Lieutenant Starheim for the award of the Military Cross."

Originally recommended for a Military Cross but upgraded to a DSO.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Løytnant (Lieutenant)

Awarded on:

1942

Posthumous