I very recently found out from my Mother that my Great Uncle was a Signalman who died in the WW2, she believed, in Italy. A search of the CGWC site has revealed that he died on 18th Feb, 1944, aged 21, and is buried in Cassino Cemetary, so I can at least pass that information to her. I am somewhat ashamed to admit that I had never heard of the Battle of Cassino Abbey, but I assume from the date of his death that he would have died during phase 2 of the fighting there (from wikipedia). My great Uncle was William ('Bill') Thomas Sparkes, from Dagenham, Essex. I would like to know a little more about his war record, and what his role would have been, the battle itself and anything about others who were there at the time. I apologise that my questions are both somewhat vague and also rather broad. I hope I have at least selected a suitable area of the forum to post in. If any of you have any useful comments to make on any aspect of the above, I would be interested to read them. (Ironically, in 2010 we visited some of the WW1 battlefields, memorials and cemeteries in Normandy as part of a grand tour of Europe, a very moving and interesting experience. Later in the holiday we visited Pompeii and would have driven very close to the Cassino cemetery- I wish I had known then about my Great Uncle)
CWGC Details SPARKES, WILLIAM THOMAS Rank: Signalman Service No: 6215837 Date of Death:18/02/1944 Age:21 Regiment/Service:Royal Corps of Signals 42nd Div. Sigs. Grave Reference I. C. 2. Cemetery CASSINO WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Percy John and Florence Margaret Sparkes, of Dagenham, Essex
Hello, Signalman Sparkes was killed on 18th Feb - the assault of 4th Indian Div on the massif had commenced but it would be impossible to speculate on the circumstances of your father's death. The Liri Valley and its surrounding heights was not known to be a very hospitable place during the winter/spring of 1944. Service records can be gained (but with a considerable wait) from the UK MOD - which would at least show the key dates of William's joining up / postings etc https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence/about/publication-scheme#requests-for-service-records-of-deceased-service-personnel-and-home-guard click on the menu on the left for "Apply for Service personnel service records" There are books a plenty..over views or detailed histories, regimental ones, and then the war diaries.. Depends what level of detail you might want to get into, and of course, there won''t be any specific reference to your great uncle. Of course, others here might know more about a signalman's lot. best
Alewife it would help you no end to get hold of the book by John Ellis - " Cassino - The Hollow Victory ' while you wait for his records to come through as this will give you some idea what was going on at that time and what you great uncle was doing - THEN come bak with the questions Cheers
Alewife Welcome aboard ! You might find this of interest: BBC - WW2 People's War - Return to Cassino Ron
Thank you both kindly for your responses bexley4, and 4 jonboy(sp). You have confirmed information that I have found so far. If anyone has anything to add I would be interested.
Shame that the unit listed on CWGC isnt one that was there. 42nd Div. Sigs. Tell me more please. Are you suggesting this is an error?
42nd Div served in France in 1940 but never went overseas again . They stayed in the UK until being disbanded in 1943. He wouldnt have been with 42 Div Signals in Italy. If you sent off for his service records , in about a year you'll know for sure who he was with.
42 Infantry Division only went overseas when it went to France in 1940. After it came back to the UK it was eventually converted to 42 Armoured Division (with tanks) but this was disbanded in 1943. The Royal Signals' history implies that the unit was disbanded, with individuals going wherever they were needed, not sent elsewhere as a formed unit. Your great uncle may have started with 42 Div Signals, but must have been posted to a different unit that ended up in Italy. Hopefully his service records will have more detail than CWGC. Are there any other memories or documents in the family that might shed some light on him in the meantime. Also, 42 Div was a Territorial Army (part-time) division formed in Lancashire. Is there a family connection with Lancashire?
No connection with Lancashire, and probably no other documents or useful memories sadly but I will ask around the remainder of the family. This just came from a rather random comment that my Mother made recently about her uncle being killed very young and being a signalman.
Have you got any photos of him at all ? If you need a photo of his headstone. We know a chap nearby who maybe able to get you a pic.
I have a pic of headstone which I have found on-line today. No pics of the man himself as far as I know until I ask the family.
Hi to everyone, dear Alewife, I just took some photographs of your great uncle's grave, from the CWM of Cassino: All the best from the Liri Valley. Damiano
Oh my goodness, Damiano, that is just so very kind. Thank you so much. It is nice to see the gravestone in the context of the place it is in, and with the hills and monastery behind. Yes it does look rather chilly, and a reminder of weather conditions at this time of year in 1944. AW
Dear Alewife, thank you too for sharing the sad story of your great uncle and his sacrifice. If you need something do not esitate to ask me. I'll be really happy to help you. Best wishes. Damiano
Damiano Hate to ask this as you have already put yourself out, but, if you visit the cemetery regularly, I have a few men I am researching from Walsall who are buried there. Any possibility of pictures if you visit again, Cheers, Graeme
Graeme, you're welcome. You can start a new thread or write the names here, or send me a message. I'll take the photographs as soon as possible. All the best. D.
