No.14729, Private, William SPARKES
Aged 22
|
William Sparkes was born in Beck Row in 1892 (Mildenhall Q4-1892 4A:709) His parents have not been found, he was the foster son and cousin of George
and Louisa MARTIN (née PEACHEY).
1901 census...Aged 9, he was at the Street, Beck Row with George MARTIN [32] grocer's porter and his wife Louisa [35] and their sons, Henry [10], George [9], Fred [6], Thomas [4] and Walter [2]. All were born in Mildenhall. Army records have the Martins as being his foster parents. 1911 census...Aged 19, a farm labourer, he was lodging in Beck Row with Ernest and Susan WEBB and their son Ernest King WEBB. He then appears to have moved to Ilford in Essex. |
|
He enlisted in Winchester, whilst residing in Ilford, Essex.
His Army records have not been found, except his medal index card and the entry in "Soldiers Personal Effects" which records that George and Louisa MARTIN were his foster parents. The battalion war diary does not accurately detail their whereabouts on 9th July 1915, but it seems to be south of Boesinghe , near Talana Farm and the canal. "9th July- About 5:15 am our splendid 'Doc' (Capt J F GWYNNE RAMC) went up to the trench to see what he could do. He spent a long time tending to the wounded left by the LANCS FUS and then bandaged up a Rifle brigade bomber who had just blown his hand off.No sooner had he finished and straightened himself than a sniper shot him through the head, killing him instantly and we lost one of the finest and bravest members of the Battn. He was buried in the evening in the brigade cemetery just behind TALANA FARM (S of Boesinghe). During the day the CO and Adjnt of the 5th YORK and LANCASTER REGT came up to take over and in the evening their regt marched in and carried out a very difficult relief extremely well. Casualties, 1 Officer killed 12 OR killed and 34 wounded. CWGC figures show 18 died, only one as an identified grave.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission and originally on Mildenhall memorial click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
