Bill Sparks

William Edward "Bill" Sparks
Born	5 September 1922 Clerkenwell, London
Died	30 November 2002 Alfriston, West Sussex
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Marines
Rank	Marine
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal

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 in German occupied France, to plant limpet mines on merchant ships supplying the Nazi war machine.

Sparks was born in Bartholomew Buildings, Seward Street, Clerkenwell, 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 six of the men were shot by the Germans and two 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.

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