William Sparham
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Sparham (junior) was born in 1883 at Golden Valley, Derbyshire and was the son of William Sparham (senior) an ironworks labourer and Hannah Sparham née Smith. His father William Sparham (senior) was born in 1843 at Golden Valley, he died in 1916 aged 73 yrs, his mother Hannah Smith was born in 1853 also at Golden Valley she died in 1883 aged 30 yrs they were married in 1870 their marriage was recorded in the Belper registration district, they had the following children, Mary Ann b1872 and James b1877 and William b1883 William Sparham (junior) married Eliza Ball (born 1888) on 19th May 1906 at Pinxton parish church, they went on to have a daughter Rose Ellen b1907 Codnor and a son William Sparham born 15th August 1908. In 1911, Eliza Sparham was living at Market Place, South Normanton with two children, William Sparham 3yrs and John H Sparham 3months she is shown as a housekeeper to the head of the family John Hudson 34 yrs a coal miner
Private William Sparham enlisted on 19th October 1914 at Ripley, he gave his address as Malthouse yard, Ripley , he gave his age as 30 yrs and 10 months, he stated he was married but his wife had left him and his next of kin was his married sister Ellen Revill. He was posted to the 1/5th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He embarked from Southampton on 25th June 1915 disembarking the following day at Rouen. He took part in the first day of the battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916 where he went missing, it was later confirmed he had been killed in action on that date. He is buried at Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery 1.B.3
After his wife left him, their son William Sparham was brought up by his grandparents Mr & Mrs Ball of 14 Market Street, South Normanton His army service record includes the army form W5080 giving details of the deceased's family which was submitted by his married sister Ellen Revill and gave details stating his parents were both deceased and his widow had 'gone away'
