SPARKMAN, Reginald
| Service Numbers: | 1507, V366751 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 April 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Divisional Signal Company |
| Born: | Windsor, Victoria, Australia, 12 February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Windsor, Stonnington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Died: | Drowning, Glenelg, South Australia, 23 December 1946, aged 53 years |
| Cemetery: |
Burwood General Cemetery, Victoria, Australia Grave site: C of E 6, Grave 486 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Jan 1916: | Involvement Sapper, 1507, 2nd Divisional Signal Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jan 1916: | Embarked Sapper, 1507, 2nd Divisional Signal Company, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne |
World War 2 Service
| 30 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V366751 |
|---|
Reginald Sparkman's Great Grand Daughters
Reginald Sparkman's great grand daughters are Jessica and Lauren McKenzie and Alyshia and Michaela Corless. These are the grand daughters of Reginald's daughter Peggy Bacon who died in 2014 but they still live to this very day.
Submitted 3 November 2016 by Alyshia Corless
Biography contributed by Larna Malone
Reginald Sparkman was born in Windsor, Prahran, Vic, on 12th February, 1893. He was the oldest child in a family of 6 children born to Albert George Sparkman and Catherine Jane Lemin. His father died in 1909 when Reginald was 16 years old. By 1914 the family was living at 7 Montrose Ave, Elsternwick.
Reginald enlisted for service on 11th March, 1915. He was 22 years old and worked as a Plumber, having completed his apprenticeship with C. R. Ratcliff of Armadale. His previous military service consisted of 3 years with the Signal Engineers, Citizen Military Force. He was appointed to 9th Rfts/2nd Division Signal Company as a Sapper with Service No. 1507. He embarked for overseas on 18 October, 1915. A younger brother, Sydney Sparkman, enlisted on July 10th, 1915, and was also appointed to 2nd Division Signal Company, but was transferred to 4th Division Signal Company in February, 1916.
On 27 September, 1917, Reginald Sparkman was Wounded in Action in France, an injury sustained through having been Gassed with Mustard Gas. He rejoined his Unit on 21 October, 1917. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for valuable services during operations at Bellicourt, September-October 1918. During this period he acted as Motor Cyclist Despatch Rider, showing particular courage and devotion to duty.
He left England for RTA on 15 May, 1919, per Ypiringa, and carried out police duties while on board. He was discharged from the AIF on 19 September, 1919, classified as Medically Unfit.
In 1920 Reginald Sparkman Married Gladys Thelma Louisa Shaw. They made their home in Caulfield, Vic, and later moved to Glen Iris.
In April, 1942, Reginald Sparkman enlisted in the Volunteer Defence Corps for Part-time duty. He was a Grade 1 Plumber Mechanic, employed as an Engineer-Mechanic with the Public Works Department. He stated experience gained during previous war service as - Motor Despatch Rider, Linesman and Signaller. He was 49 years old and suffered from post war physical disability of Pulmonry Fibrosis as a result of Gas. He was accepted for service in the 4th Battalion VDC. His brother Sydney had been accepted into the same battalion in March, 1942. Reginald was discharged from the VDC on 21 August, 1944.
Reginald Sparkman Died on 23rd December, 1946, while swimming at Glenelg, S.A. He was Buried in the Burwood Cemetery, Vic.
Click images to start slideshow.