SPARKES, William Robert
| Service Number: | 899 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 November 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, May 1889 |
| Home Town: | Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Renal tumour, diabetes, severe, Newcastle Hospital, New South Wales, Australia, 22 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW METHODIST 2 (PRIMITIVE) 16 NW. 43. |
| Memorials: | Merewether Public School Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 899, 35th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 899, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 899, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 21 Sep 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 899, 35th Infantry Battalion, Medically unfit - diabetes |
Help us honour William Robert Sparkes's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Served and suffered and died during The Great War years, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
105 years ago today, on the Wednesday afternoon of the 24th October 1917, Private William Robert Spark, 35th Battalion (enlisted as SPARKES, Reg No-899), miner from Rose Street, Merewether, New South Wales and Wilton Street, Merewether, N.S.W., was laid rest with a military funeral at Sandgate Cemetery, age 29. METHODIST 2 (PRIMITIVE) 16 NW. 43.
Born 1888 at Ipswich, Queensland to John Thomas and Ellen Jane Spark nee Edwards of Rose Street, Merewether, New South Wales and Wilton Street, Merewether, N.S.W., William enlisted November 1915 (as SPARKES) at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Admitted to hospital 27.8.1916 (influenza), 21.12.1916 (cold), 14.3.1917 (renal tumour, diabetes, severe).
Mr. Spark’s name has been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates (as W. Sparkes), Merewether Public School Roll of Honor (as W.R.Sparke) and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall. Name not inscribed on the Merewether (Glebe) Methodist Church Honor Roll.
Younger brother Edward (enlisted as SPARKES, 35th Battalion, Reg No-898, born 1891, Merewether, New South Wales, died 13.10.1926, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, N.S.W., age 35) memorialised same location (resting at Western Road Cemetery, (Mays Hill) Parramatta, N.S.W.).
I have placed poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label at the gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country. METHODIST 2 (PRIMITIVE) 16 NW. 43.
I will be submitting an application to DVA asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque to be placed at the gravesite.
Service record does not state Died after Discharge.
Name not on the Australian Roll of Honour.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.