Bill Sparks

William Edward "Bill" Sparks DSM (5 September 1922 – 1 December 2002) was a British Royal Marine Commando in World War II. He was the last survivor of the "Cockleshell Heroes"; a team of commandos who paddled 85 miles from the Bay of Biscay up the Gironde River to Bordeaux German-occupied France, to plant limpet mines on merchant ships supplying the Nazi war machine.

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

During the night of 7 December 1942, ten Royal Marines set out in five canoes on Operation Frankton. They caused considerable damage to five ships, but eight of the men were shot or drowned. Sparks and Major Herbert "Blondie" Hasler were pursued through France and Spain by the Germans for three months before they reached safety in Gibraltar.

When Hasler flew home, Sparks was sent back to England under arrest, as no one in Gibraltar could corroborate his story. On arrival, he escaped from the MPs 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 to Combined Operations Headquarters, where he was greeted with astonishment.

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

Bill lived for many years in Loughton, Essex before moving in the early seventies to Canvey Island. After the death of Violet in 1982, Bill and his second wife Irene relocated to West Sussex.

After his first wife, Violet, died in 1982, he married again. Sparks is survived by a daughter and three sons, one of whom, Terry Sparks, became a captain in the Royal Marines. One of his grandchildren, Paul Sparks, served in the Royal Air Force Regiment. He is survived by his second wife, Irene.

Honours and awards

 * 29 June 1943 - Distinguished Service Medal For courage and enterprise: Marine William Edward Sparks, Ply.X.3664..
 * There is a blue plaque to Sparks on the council house he occupied after the war in Poundfield Road, Loughton, Essex.