Bill Sparks

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Royal Marine Bill Sparks DSM (September 5, 1922 – December 1, 2002)

He was the last surviving Cockleshell hero who paddled 85 miles into France to blow up German merchant shipping.

He was born in the East End of London and joined the Royal Marines on the outbreak of World War II. He volunteered for hazardous service as a way of avenging his brother Bonny who had died on the cruiser HMS Naiad.

During the night of December 11, 1942, 10 Royal Marines set out in five craft on Operation Frankton, they caused considerable damage to their targets, but eight of them were shot or drowned. Sparks and Major Herbert "Blondie" Hasler found themselves pursued through France and Spain by vengeful Germans for three months before they reached safety in Gibraltar.

When Hasler flew home, Sparks was sent to England under arrest as no one left in Gibraltar could corroborate his story. On arrival in England he escaped from the military police and went to see his father who had been told that he was missing in action. Two days later he reported to the Admiralty and was about to be arrested again, when he slipped out and reported to Combined Operations Headquarters, where he was greeted with astonishment.

During the rest of the war he served in Burma, Africa and Italy. Afterwards he worked as a bus driver, during the Malayan Emergency as a police lieutenant and then as a bus inspector.

Sparks, was survived by three sons, one of whom became a colour sergeant in the Marines, and a daughter. After his first wife Violet died in 1982, he married again. His second wife Irene also survived him.

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