Orders, Decorations and Medals

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Gluckstadt 5 Jany 1814 (William Sparks) edge bruise, otherwise very fine £2500-3000

William Sparks is confirmed on the rolls as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Desirée at Gluckstadt, for which approximately 42 clasps were issued. One other man of these names is shown on the Admiralty roll, entitled to Syria.

In late 1813-14, a British Squadron under the command of Captain A. Farquhar, co-operated with a division of the army of the Crown Prince of Sweden in the siege and capture of Gluckstadt, on the Elbe. After an investment of sixteen days, followed by six days bombardment, the town capitulated on 5 January 1814. The officers commanding ships were presented with a gold medal by the Swedish government. This was the last action against Danish armed forces before the peace was signed in Kiel ten days later.

William Sparks (sometimes Sparkes) was born at St Ives, Cornwall, in 1793, and first appeared in the Desirée on 14 January 1812, aged 19 and rated an Ordinary Seaman. He was discharged to Haslar Hospital (with notation ‘Dsg’ - discharged special grounds) on 23 April 1814, suffering from ‘Constipatio’, and remained there until 13 May 1814, when he joined the Prince. Sold with copy muster details and further research.