Edward (Spark) SPARKES

SPARKES, Edward

Service Number: 898
Enlisted: 21 November 1915, 2.5 years 4th AIR
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 35th Infantry Battalion
Born: Merewether, New South Wales, Australia, June 1891
Home Town: Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Cardiff, New South Wales, Australia, 13 October 1926, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Mays Hill Cemetery
aka Western-road Cemetery, Parramatta, New South Wales
Memorials: Merewether Memorial Gates, Merewether Public School Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

21 Nov 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 898, 35th Infantry Battalion, 2.5 years 4th AIR
1 May 1916: Involvement Private, 898, 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, 898, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney
30 May 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 898, 35th Infantry Battalion, GSW left arm, gas
12 Aug 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 898, 35th Infantry Battalion, 2nd MD

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Biography contributed by Evan Evans

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
 
Memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery.

95 years ago today, on the Thursday afternoon of the 14th October 1926, Private Edward Spark (Sparkes), 35th Battalion (Reg No-898), labourer from Rose Street, Merewether, New South Wales and Francis Street, Cardiff, N.S.W., father of one (Betty), was laid to rest at Western Road Cemetery, (Mays Hill) Parramatta, N.S.W., age 35.

The funeral notice for Edward states service and laid to rest at Western Road Cemetery, (Mays Hill) Parramatta, N.S.W.

Born at Merewether, New South Wales on the ? ?1891 to John Thomas (died 1917) and Ellen Jane Spark (died 1926 as SPARKE) nee Edwards of Milton Street, Merewether, N.S.W.; husband of May (Mary) Spark nee Cornish (married 27.12.1919 at Parramatta, N.S.W., died 1947?), Edward enlisted November 1915 (as SPARKES) at Newcastle, N.S.W.

Admitted to hospital 27.8.1916 (epididymitis and influenza). Wounded in action - 30.5.1917 (not stated), 1.6.1917 (GSW left arm, gas).

Older brother William Robert (35th Battalion, Reg No-899, enlisted same day as Edward, born 1888, died 22.10.1917, age 29) resting same location. METHODIST 2 (PRIMITIVE) 16 NW. 43.

Mr. Spark’s name has been inscribed on the Merewether Public School Roll of Honor (as SPARKE, photo, unveiled on the 21st September 1917, 98 names originally inscribed, 107 names now inscribed, 14 Fallen), Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates and the Merewether U.A.O. Druids (Rock of Hope branch) Roll of Honour.

I have placed poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label at the Spark’s family gravesite in remembrance of the service and sacrifice of Edward and brother William Robert Spark.

Service record states Died 13-10-1926.

I do not know if Edward has been officially commemorated at his gravesite (no photo located).
Brother William would probably be officially commemorated with a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque at the gravesite.

Lest We Forget.

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