The Jacksdale Memorial is fairly unusual, in that it also lists not only those who fell, but also those who served during World War One.  On one of the ‘Served’ Plaques, W. Sparham is listed, but beside his name, it is engraved ‘ Killed 1916’.   

William Sparham was born in 1883 at Golden Valley, son of William Sparham, a coal miner, ( born 1843 Golden Valley) and his wife Annie/Hannah Smith. William and Annie married in 1870 and had a number of children:- Mary Ann b. 1873 at Greenwich, Ripley, Ellen b. 1876 Golden Valley, James b. 1877 Ilkeston, Agnes b. 1880 Golden Valley as well as William b.1883.  William's father James was a coal miner/engine driver.  In 1883, the same year William was born , his mother died so William was brought up by his father and elder sisters.

In 1906 William married Eliza Ball b. 1877 South Normanton.  In 1911, Eliza is living at Market Place, South Normanton with their two children, William and John Henry Sparham.  Husband William is not at home on the night of the census.  William's military details confirm that he enlisted at Ripley, Derbyshire and lived at South Normanton.   He was drafted to France in June 1915.

William was was killed on 1^st July 1916, the first day of the Somme offensive and is buried at Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. 

During the Summer of 2001, Judith and Terry Kelsall, of Mackworth, Derby, were kind enough to take photographs of William Sparham’s grave, during a visit to nearby Foncquevillers, whilst attending the 85^th  Memorial Service to commemorate, the special connection which exists between the village of Foncquevillers and the city of Derby.