SPARKE, Edward Rashleigh
| Service Number: | 130 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 August 1914, Sydney |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Waratah, New South Wales, Australia , 14 June 1895 |
| Home Town: | Waratah West, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Maitland High School, Maitland, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Law Clerk |
| Died: | Influenza - cardiac failure and broncho-pneumonia , No 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick, 22 June 1919, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Waverley Cemetery, Bronte, New South Wales Anglican Sec. Grave 7606 |
| Memorials: | Maitland High School Roll of Honour, Newcastle Surf Club Life Saving Brigade Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 130, 1st Field Ambulance, Sydney | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 130, 1st Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 130, 1st Field Ambulance, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 16 Aug 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
| 16 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant | |
| 19 Dec 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
| 6 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), GSW right shoulder (severe) | |
| 21 Jul 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Infantry Battalion, HT Euripides for invaliding to Australia - disembarking Melbourne 18 September 1917 then by train to Sydney | |
| 18 Mar 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Edward Rashleigh Sparke's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
He was born in Newcastle, Northumberland, N.S.W. and was a law clerk at the time of enlistment.He transferred from 1st Field Ambulance to the 1st Battalion A.I.F. in France. He was wounded in action [GSW to shoulder] at Bullecourt, France on May 5th 1917 and evacuated to Wandsworth Hospital, South London, England. He returned to duty in Australia joining the Censor Staff of the Australian Military Forces (Citizen Forces).
He died of multiple causes influenza, cardiac failure and broncho-pneumonia ] in No 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick
He was 24 and the son of William Sparke, solicitor of Waratah, New South Wales. His mother was Clara Harrison Smith
He was accepted, after research, for commemoration as Great War dead on 13th September 2016.
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
An Original Anzac memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery, resting at Waverley General Cemetery, Anglican Section, N.S.W. Grave 7606.
103 years ago today, on the Tuesday afternoon of the 24th June 1919, Lieutenant Edward Rashleigh Sparke, 1st Battalion (Censor Staff or Intelligence Corps, Reg No-130), law clerk (Messrs. Sparke & Millard, Newcastle, N.S.W.), of "Knoyle", High Street, Waratah, New South Wales, was laid to rest with full military honours at Waverley General Cemetery, N.S.W., age 24.
Edward died on the 22nd June 1919 of influenza, cardiac failure and bronchopneumonia in No. 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick, N.S.W.
Born at Waratah, New South Wales on the 14th June 1895 to William (died 1948) and Clara Harrison (died 1929) Sparke nee Smith, Edward enlisted August 1914 with the 1st Australian Field Ambulance at Sydney, N.S.W.
Wounded in action - 6.5.1917 (GSW right arm, shoulder and humerus, severe) 2nd Battle of Bullecourt, France.
Edward was invalided home September 1917, being discharged medically unfit on the 18th March 1918.
Mr. Sparke’s name has been inscribed on the East Maitland Boys' High School Roll of Honour, Newcastle Surf Club & Life-Saving Brigade Honor Roll and the Waratah-St Philip's Anglican Church Roll of Honour (photo, unveiled on the 8th April 1917, 65 names originally inscribed, 96 names now inscribed, 14 Fallen). Name would be inscribed on the Newcastle Collegiate School Roll of Honour (unveiled on the 15th November 1916, 78 names inscribed, whereabouts unknown).
Edward has been memorialised at his parent’s gravesite. ANGLICAN 2-124. 50.
Next of kin received Memorial Plaque (25.6.1923) and Memorial Scroll (7.7.1923) but name not listed on the Roll of Honour.
Service record states awarded Military Cross in the field 6.12.1916, but entry was cancelled 27.2.1917.
Service record states Died after Discharge.
Bronze Plaque installed at gravesite 2020.
Younger brother Lieutenant Alan Everard (served with the Royal Horse Artillery, born 22.6.1900, Waratah, N.S.W., died 21.3.1927, age 26 - resting same location at the cemetery.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
Lest We Forget.
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