|
May 21, 1864
|
Born in Southampton, England
According to research by John
D. Reid of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, George
Sparkes was a great-nephew of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A.
MacDonald. This was presented to the
society at the October 2003 meeting.
There are variations in the
spelling of his name, depending on the documents viewed. Most prominent is the spelling of his
surname, as it appears as Sparkes and Sparks.
His middle name is also spelled Angoe, Angove and Angue.
|
|
May 3, 1881
|
Appointed by Order In Council
to be 2nd Class Clerk in the Department of the Interior,
Secretary’s Branch
|
|
Apr 27, 1900
|
Enlisted in the Lord
Strathcona’s Horse in Ottawa, Ontario
Ø Number 646
Ø Rank Private
Ø Next of kin given
as Mrs. Godfrey, c/o Mrs. Vincent Basset, Southampton, England
Ø Previous occupation
given as Clerk
Ø Religion given as
Church of England
|
|
Jul 5, 1900
|
Wounded while in South Africa
On being discharged, he was
entitled to the Queen’s Medal with 3 Clasps
Ø Belfast
Ø Cape Colony
Ø Orange Free State
|
|
Nov 1, 1914
|
Attested into the 21st
Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank Lieutenant
Ø Next of kin given as James Vadler, Chesterfield
Chiddingfold, Surrey, England
o A note to also notify the Interior Department
Ø Previous occupation given as Civil Servant
Ø Previous military experience given as Lord
Strathcona’s Horse, service in the North West Rebellion and 3rd
Canadian Mounted Rifles with rank of Lieutenant
Ø Religion given as Church of England
Ø Posted to the Transport Section
He lied about his age, stating
that he had been born May 24, 1870, when his actual birth date was May 21,
1864.
The battalion trained in the
Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
Shortly after enlisting, he was
promoted to the rank of Captain
|
|
Dec 1, 1914
|
Although the date is not shown in his
file, Captain Sparkes proceeded to England in December of 1914 when the news
came that his mother had passed away. He
remained in England to make arrangements for the arrival of both the
Transport Section and the battalion
|
|
May 15, 1915
|
The battalion disembarked in
Devonport, England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent
to join up with the Transport Section and continue training
|
|
Jun 5, 1915
|
Granted 3 days leave
|
| Sep 11, 1915 |
Private Samuel Coleman 59186,
appointed as Batman to Captain Sparkes
|
|
Sep 14, 1915
|
Embarked the St. Seiriol in
Folkestone
|
|
Sep 15, 1915
|
Disembarked in Boulogne,
France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
|
|
Nov 23, 1915
|
Proceeded on the Transport
Officer’s Course
|
|
Jan 10, 1916
|
Transferred to the General
List of Officers to be Aide Dey Camp for the General Officer Commanding Camp
Bramshott
|
|
Apr 1, 1916
|
Appointed to rank of Temporary
Major
|
|
May 18, 1916
|
Transferred to the
Headquarters Staff, 12th Infantry Brigade to be Brigade Transport
Officer
|
|
Aug 9, 1916
|
Transferred to the Canadian
Training Brigade
|
|
Aug 13, 1916
|
Admitted to the Bramshott
Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Iritis, an eye infection
|
|
Sep 4, 1916
|
Discharged to duty from
hospital
|
|
Mar 1, 1917
|
Attached to Canadian Troops
Headquarters, London
|
|
May 21, 1917
|
Transferred to the EORD
(Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) in Seaford
|
|
Sep 3, 1917
|
Admitted to the IODE (Imperial
Order Daughters of the Empire) Red Cross Hospital No. 1, Hyde Park, London
with a diagnosis that reads Neuritis of the legs
|
|
Sep 7, 1917
|
Discharged to duty from
hospital and granted 14 days leave to attend special bath treatment
|
|
Sep 22, 1917
|
Medical Board in London notes
Ø Suffers from
Rereperal Neuritis
Ø Numbness and pain
in legs is spreading
Ø Knee jerk absent
Ø Arteries are soft
and easily compressible
Ø Beginning arcus
senilis in the eyes
Ø Permanently unfit
for any duty
|
|
Oct 16, 1917
|
Struck Off Strength on
resigning his commission per London Gazette #30366 and discharged from the
CEF in London, England
Following the end of the war
the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him c/o
the Bank of Montreal, 47 Threadneedle St. London, England
|
|
Nov 8, 1917
|
Medical Board in London notes
Ø It is felt that the
Neuritis was caused by the man’s consistent drinking, but the condition was
greatly aggravated by his service in damp conditions at the front
Ø Recommends that his
resignation not be accepted until he is in receipt of a disability pension
|
|
