SPARGO, Frederick Sydney
| Service Number: | 4857 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 January 1917, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Norton Summit , 20 December 1884 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Grassy Flat Primary School Norton Summit |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France , 1 September 1918, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Norton Summit Public School Roll of Honour, Norton Summit War Memorial, Norwood War Memorial, The South Australian National War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jan 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4857, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4857, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jun 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4857, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 24 Dec 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Apr 1918: | Wounded Private, 4857, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Dernancourt/Ancre, GSW (shoulder) | |
| 1 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4857, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Mont St Quentin / Peronne, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4857 awm_unit: 43rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-09-01 |
Birth details
Born 20 December 1884, district of Norwood SA.
Son of William Nicholas Spargo and Harriet (Battams).
Birth place/residence: Nortons Summit.
Registered as Frederick Sidney Spargo.
Reference Book/Page 342/49
Source: Genealogy SA Birth Index.
Submitted 1 June 2016 by Janet Stacey
Biography contributed by John Edwards
"...4857 Private Frederick Sydney Spargo, 32nd Battalion (later 43rd Battalion), of Norton Summit, SA. A gardener prior to enlisting on 19 January 1917, he embarked from Adelaide on HMAT Borda on 23 June 1917 with the 13th Reinforcements. On 24th December 1917 he was taken on strength of the 43rd Battalion in France. On 2nd April 1918 he was wounded in the shoulder and evacuated to England. He rejoined his unit on 14 July 1918 and was killed in action in France on 1 September 1918, aged 33." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Xavier Two Wells
Fredrick Sydney Spargo was born on the 20th of December 1884 in Norton Summit, South Australia. He spent his childhood living in Norton Summit with his mother Harriet (Battams) Spargo (who passed in 1929) and his father William Nicholas Spargo (who passed in 1903). He was the third child born out of 6 children, 2 older siblings, one younger sibling. As a child Fredrick attended Grassy Flat Primary School in Norton Summit. As a young man he worked as a fruit gardener, harvesting apples and grapes within the Adelaide hills region.
On January 19, 1917 at the age of 32 Private Spargo enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and was assigned to the 32nd Battalion. His mother was his nominated next of kin. Private Spargo began basic training in Mitcham.
On the 23rd of June 1917, Private Spargo embarked on a journey from Adelaide on the HMAT Borda to England. He arrived in Plymouth, England on August the 25, 1917 and marked in to 8th Training Battalion. On the 24th of December 1917 Private Spargo was taken on strength with the 43rd Battalion.
On April 12th, 1918, the 43rd Battalion unit was fighting near the village of Villers-Bretonneux in France. During this battle Private Spargo was wounded by a gun shot to his right shoulder. The wound was severe. After initial treatment in France he was transferred to England for further treatment. After a period of furlough he marked in to Command Depot in June and returned to the front the following month.
On September 1st, 1918 Private Spargo engaged in the intense battle of Mont St. Quentin and Peronne in France. On this day Private Spargo lost his life at the age of 33. Private Spargo was buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery extension, Peronne, Picarride, France
Private Spargo is remembered in many ways for his sacrifice.
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, panel 137.
Norton Summit War Memorial (his place of birth) in south Australia,
Norton Summit Public School Roll
A Memorial stained glass window in the Baptist Church in Norton Summit
Click images to start slideshow.