Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Chief Petty Officer Albert Sparks, Royal Navy, Captain of No. 1 Gun in the Zululand Naval Brigade in South Africa, subsequently decorated for saving life in China

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (129206 P-O: A. E. Sparks, H.M.S. Terrible) impressed naming; China 1900, no clasp (A. E. Sparkes, P.O. 1 Cl. H.M.S. Terrible); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (A. E. Sparks, P.O. 1 Cl. H.M.S. Terrible); Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (Albert E. Sparks R.N. Oct. 31. 1900) complete with silver ribbon buckle, good very fine (4) £1200-1500

Albert Edward Sparks was born at Woolwich on 23 May 1869, and joined the Navy on 8 November 1884, as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. Boscawen. He joined H.M.S. Terrible in July 1898 and served in South Africa with the second naval brigade landed from Terrible in February 1900, as Captain of Field Gun No. 1. This brigade, known as the Zululand Naval Brigade, comprised two field guns with 50 men, under Lieutenant J. K. P. Downer of H.M.S. Monarch, and was formed to secure the Zululand border from Boer incursions. However, on 13 March 1900, all the naval contingents ashore rejoined Terrible in preparation for the voyage to the China station.

Whilst at anchor off Wei-Hai-Wei on 31 October 1900, Petty Officer Sparks performed a gallant act whilst coxswain of Terrible’s Picket boat. The Royal Humane Society’s case report states: ‘It was blowing a gale and there was a heavy sea running. The steam picket boat astern of the ship foundered, the crew of nine being thrown into the water. Eight of the men, including Sparks, reached the sailing launch. One man was unable to swim and was being carried away. Sparks swam to and rescued the man. Great risk was incurred, not only from the heavy sea, but from close proximity of a precipitous lee shore’ (Silver Medal).

Sparks received his L.S. & G.C. medal on 29 July 1902 and left Terrible on 24 October following. He was pensioned on 24 May 1907 as a Chief Petty Officer and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Portsmouth on 1 June 1907.