Ernest William SPARK MM

Ernest William SPARK MM Update Details

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SPARK, Ernest William

Service Numbers:	2043, V92247
Enlisted:	24 July 1915
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	Australian Provost Corps
Born:	Ballarat, Victoria, Australia , July 1897
Home Town:	Ballarat, Central Highlands, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Driver
Died:	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 1 January 1963, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Brighton General Cemetery, Victoria The Victorian Garden of Remembrance
Memorials:	Ballarat Golden Point State School

World War 1 Service

24 Jul 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2043, 21st Infantry Battalion
26 Aug 1915:	Involvement Private, 2043, 21st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: ''
26 Aug 1915:	Embarked Private, 2043, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne
28 Jul 1916:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2043, 21st Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , GSW left shoulder - severe
19 Apr 1917:	Honoured Military Medal, Assisted in the rescue of an NCO from no man's land at Fleurbaix on the night of 24-25/4/1916.
13 Oct 1918:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 24th Infantry Battalion
10 Nov 1918:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, Australian Provost Corps
27 Feb 1919:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2043, Australian Provost Corps , embarked England on board HT Warwickshire for Colombo (hospitalised with Influenza)
24 Jul 1919:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2043, Australian Provost Corps , embarked Colombo for Melbourne on board HT Oxfordshire
21 Oct 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2043, Australian Provost Corps , Medically unfit from previous GSW to shoulder.

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1941:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V92247
28 Jan 1942:	Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V92247

Help us honour Ernest William Spark's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Private Ernest William Spark (Service No:2043) enlisted in the AIF in Ballarat, Victoria on 24 July 1915 and was attached to 21st Infantry Battalion when he embarked with his Unit from Melbourne for Gallipoli on 26 August 1915 on board HMAT A68 Anchises. Private Spark served in France and Belgium with 21st and 24th Infantry Battalions and was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for his bravery at Fleurbaix, France on the night of 24/25 April 1916 'while on duty at an advanced listening post, he heard cries for help from no man's land, went out and found a patrol of three from his battalion who had all been wounded, one fatally. He assisted in bringing them in under heavy enemy fire' (AWM). On 28 July 1916 Private Spark was WiA in France - GSW to shoulder - and hospitalied in England. Returning to France, Private Spark transferred to Australian Provost Corps in October 1918, and on 27 February 1919 embarked from England for Colombo on board HT Warwickshire. He was hospitalised with Influenza in Colombo, and embarked for Melbourne on 24 July 1919 on board HT Oxfordshire. Private Spark was attached to Australian Provost Corps at Discharge on 21 October 1919.

In WWII, Private Spark served in the ACMF (Service No:V92247) with 9 Garrison Battalion (3 September 1941 - 28 January 1942).

Ernest was born in Ballarat, Victoria in 1896, second of fourteen children of Archibald (Arch) Leslie Spark (b1874 at New Chum via Bendigo, Victoria) and Jessica (Jessie) Violet Ah Tann (b1877 at Sago Hill via Ballarat, Victoria). Arch was a Miner in 1894 when he and Jessie married in Strathfieldsaye via Bendigo. They settled in Ballarat where they raised their family and Arch worked as a Miner and Carter.

Ernest was a Driver in Ballarat when he enlisted in the AIF. Following his Discharge, in 1920 in Ballarat he married Ida Emily Dawson (b1898 in Daylesford, Victoria). Ernest and Ida moved to Melbourne where Ernest established EW Spark & Coy - Knitting Manufacturers. Ernest and Ida settled in Melbourne where they raised their family and Ernest was Managing Director of the business. Following Ida's death in 1960, Ernest remarried in 1962 to Euphemia (Effie) Isabel Pask (nee McMillan; b1904 in Melbourne, Victoria). Ernest died in 1963 and Effie in 1964.

Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Private Ernest William Spark MM (Service No:V92247) served in the ACMF with 9 Garrison Battalion from 3 September 1941 to 28 January 1942. Private Spark had served in WWI (Service No:2043) in Gallipoli, France and Belgium and was attached to Australian Provost Corps at Discharge in 1919.

Born in Ballarat, Victoria in 1896, Ernest was second of fourteen children of Archibald (Arch) Leslie Spark (b1874 at New Chum via Bendigo, Victoria) and Jessica (Jessie) Violet Ah Tann (b1877 at Sago Hill via Ballarat, Victoria). Arch was a Miner in 1894 when he and Jessie married in Strathfieldsaye, Bendigo, Victoria. They settled in Ballarat where they raised their family and Arch worked as a Miner and Carter.

Ernest worked in Ballarat as a Driver before enlisting in the AIF and in 1920 in Ballarat, he married Ida Emily Dawson (b1898 in Daylesford, Victoria). Ernest and Ida settled in Melbourne, Victoria where they raised their family and Ernest established EW Spark & Co - Knitting Manufacturers. Ernest was Managing Dircetor of the business and, following Ida's death in 1960, remarried in 1962 to Euphemia (Effie) Isabel Pask (nee McMillan; b1904 in Melbourne, Victoria). Ernest died in 1963 and Effie in 1964.

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