{"product_id":"royal-navy-long-service-medal-group-served-ww2-from-petersfield-hampshire","title":"Royal Navy Long Service Medal Group Served WW2 from Petersfield, Hampshire","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War Royal Naval Long Service Medal Group – Chief Petty Officer Frederick White Aylwin Sparkes, Royal Navy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1914-15 Star – \u003cb\u003eJ. 40629. F. W. A. SPARKES. BOY. , 1. R.N.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBritish War Medal – \u003cb\u003eJ. 40629. F. W. A. SPARKES. A.B. R.N.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVictory Medal – \u003cb\u003eJ. 40629. F. W. A. SPARKES. A.B. R.N.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eRoyal Navy Long Service \u0026amp; Good Conduct Medal – \u003cb\u003eJ. 40629. F. W. A. SPARKES. P.O. H.M.S. CORNWALL\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMounted for display.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFrederick White Aylwin Sparkes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born on \u003cb\u003e31st August 1899 at Petersfield, Hampshire\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eThomas Sparkes and Lucy Annie Edwards\u003c\/b\u003e. His father died in 1900 when Frederick was still an infant, and he was raised in Petersfield by his widowed mother. By the time of the 1911 Census he was residing locally with his family.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe entered the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Navy as a Boy in 1915 \u003c\/b\u003eand then on 31st August 1917 he started his regular service, commencing a twelve-year engagement on his eighteenth birthday. His civilian occupation was recorded as \u003cb\u003eerrand boy\u003c\/b\u003e. On entry he was described as \u003cb\u003e5 feet 5½ inches in height, with fair hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFollowing training at \u003cb\u003eH.M.S. Victory and Impregnable\u003c\/b\u003e, he was advanced through the ratings to \u003cb\u003eAble Seaman\u003c\/b\u003e. His service during the closing stages of the First World War and throughout the inter-war period included postings to \u003cb\u003eCarnarvon, Victory II, Excellent, Queen Elizabeth, Yarmouth, Cornwall, Suffolk, Effingham and Ramillies\u003c\/b\u003e, in addition to further service at Portsmouth establishments. His character and efficiency assessments were consistently recorded as \u003cb\u003eVery Good\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e18th December 1931\u003c\/b\u003e, he was awarded the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal\u003c\/b\u003e, reflecting over a decade of exemplary service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe married \u003cb\u003eVera Gertrude Miles in 1919 at Eastbourne, Sussex\u003c\/b\u003e, and by 1921 was residing at \u003cb\u003e15 Brooks Road, Petersfield\u003c\/b\u003e, recorded in the census as a \u003cb\u003eRoyal Navy seaman and head of household\u003c\/b\u003e. The couple had at least two sons, including \u003cb\u003eFrederick Vincent Sparkes\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eCharles Thomas Sparkes\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSparkes was \u003cb\u003eshore pensioned on 30th August 1939\u003c\/b\u003e, immediately prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. He was later \u003cb\u003erecalled for service and promoted Temporary Leading Seaman on 8th November 1940\u003c\/b\u003e, again serving at Victory and associated establishments during the war years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHis family suffered significant wartime losses. His brother, \u003cb\u003eThomas Charles Sparkes, was killed in action on 12th October 1918 on the Western Front\u003c\/b\u003e during the final weeks of the Great War. A generation later, his son, \u003cb\u003eSergeant Frederick Vincent Sparkes of the Irish Guards, was killed in Tunisia on 1st May 1943\u003c\/b\u003e during the North African campaign.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFrederick White Aylwin Sparkes survived both conflicts and remained in Hampshire for the remainder of his life. He died on \u003cb\u003e17th October 1983 at Horndean, Hampshire\u003c\/b\u003e, aged 84.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVisit my website for better prices on most of my stock.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53667777610074,"sku":null,"price":170.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260209_110321.png?v=1771853962","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/royal-navy-long-service-medal-group-served-ww2-from-petersfield-hampshire","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}