Harold (Harry) SPARKS

SPARKS, Harold

Service Number: 3635
Enlisted: 1 August 1938
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: No. 9 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Avoca, Victoria, Australia , 30 January 1914
Home Town: Bentleigh East, Glen Eira, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Salesman
Died: Killed in Action, Sunda Strait, Netherlands East Indies, 1 March 1942, aged 28 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Singapore Memorial, Singapore Col 422
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, East Fremantle HMAS Perth (I) Memorial, Singapore Memorial Kranji War Cemetery
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Non Warlike Service

1 Aug 1938: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 3635, Laverton, Victoria

World War 2 Service

1 Aug 1938: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 3635, No. 9 Squadron (RAAF)
1 Mar 1942: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 3635, No. 9 Squadron (RAAF)

Help us honour Harold Sparks's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Stephen Diver

Son of Mrs EF Sparks and Stepson of Mr HP Duffield.

Also Listed on 9 RAAF Squadron Memorial at the Seaplane Memorial,Rathmines NSW, HMAS Perth Memorial Perth Western Australia and AWM Canberra.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Six members of Number 9 (Fleet Cooperation) Squadron RAAF based at Rathmines were deployed aboard HMAS Perth to fly and maintain the ship's aircraft, when the ship was sunk in Sunda Strait on the 1st of March 1942 three of them were killed and they are commemorated on the Singapore Memorial - Sergeant Harold Sparks 3635 / Corporal Phillip Ernest Will 9030 / Corporal Colin Archibald Nott 9358

Leading Aircraftman Ernest George Toe 40613 survived the sinking of HMAS Perth and became a POW of the Japanese; he died in the Far East following the sinking of the Transport Ship Rakuyo Maru - 12/09/1944 (commemorated on the Singapore Memorial - Column 444)

Flight Lieutenant Allen Vernon McDonough 407008 (discharged from the RAAF in January 1946) and Warrant Officer Ronald Adolphus Bradshaw 17357 (discharged from the RAAF in July 1946) survived.

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