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William Edward “Bill” Sparks

Birth: 5 Sep 1922
Greater London, England
Death: 30 Nov 2002 (aged 80)
Alfriston, Wealden District, East Sussex, England
Burial: St. Andrew's Churchyard

Alfriston, Wealden District, East Sussex, England Add to Map
Plot: new churchyard
Memorial ID: 53551303 View Source

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Memorial
Photos 15
Flowers 4

Memorials
Region
Europe
England
East Sussex
Wealden District
Alfriston
St. Andrew's Churchyard

Maintained by: Neil Funkhouser
Originally Created by: geoffrey gillon
Added: Jun 11, 2010
Find a Grave Memorial ID:
Sponsored by geoffrey gillon
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Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53551303/william_edward-sparks: accessed ), memorial page for William Edward “Bill” Sparks (5 Sep 1922–30 Nov 2002), Find a Grave Memorial ID 53551303, citing St. Andrew's Churchyard, Alfriston, Wealden District, East Sussex, England; Maintained by Neil Funkhouser (contributor 46781068).

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Bill with his decorations

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At the premiere of the film, The Cockleshell Heroes

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Bill's last meeting with his friend Tony Newley who played Bill in the 1955 film

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With Major Hasler

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Blue Plaque on the wall of 47 Poundfield Road, Loughton, Essex. Bill Sparks lived here.

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Congratulatory letter on the award of the DSM from Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Louis Mountbatten.

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Order to attend the War Crimes Tribunal in Hamburg, Germany

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Training in the waters around Canvey for his re-enactment in 1983

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In Baltimore promoting the film. Bill is sitting at the back between two US Marines

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The site of their training base now the Rose Gardens by the Canoe Lake on Southsea Esplanade, Southsea.

THE COCKLESHELL HEROES

This plaque provided by Portsmouth City Council was unveiled by Marine Bill Sparks DSM on 6th July 1992. In the presence of the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Councillor Jim Patey and the Chairman of the Leisure Committee Councillor Syd Rapson BEM to mark the 50th Anniversary of this site which was used as a training base for the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment formed on 6th July 1942. This secret unit trained on the Solent for raids by canoe (Cockles) on Europe.

The most famous raid was on German shipping in Bordeaux docks. On 11th December 1942 by ten members of RMBPD only two of these Cockleshell Heroes returned.

MAJ H HASLER OBE DSO RM
MNE W SPARKS DSM
CPL A LAVER
MNE W MILLS
CPL G SHEARD LT J MACKINNON RM
MNE J CONWAY
SGT S WALLACE
MNE R EWART
MNE D MOFFAT

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