Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War O.B.E. group of four to Brevet Colonel W. A. Sparrow, Royal Engineers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, hallmarks for London 1919; British War Medal 1914-20 (Major); Jubilee 1935; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1922, complete with slip-bar, mounted as worn, good very fine and better (4) £300-360

Ex D.N.W. 6 July 2004.

Walter Augustus Sparrow was born on 7 December 1877. Employed as Borough Accountant of Eastbourne, in 1907 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers Volunteers, being assigned to the Sussex Royal Engineer Volunteers at Eastbourne. On the outbreak of war he was Captain and second-in-command of the 1st Home Counties Field Company R.E.. In November 1914 he commanded the 2/1st Home Counties Field Company R.E. and in April 1915 was promoted Major. In December 1915 he was Brigade Major of the 9th Provisional Brigade and in November 1916 Brigade Major of the 218th Infantry Brigade. He was appointed second-in-command of the 5th Reserve Battalion R.E. and the R.E. Training Centre, Christchurch, Hampshire in February 1918; taking over command of the above in September 1918. For his wartime services he was awarded the O.B.E. (London Gazette 3 June 1919). After the war he continued his service with the Territorial Army, being assigned to the 44th Home Counties Division Engineers at Brighton. Sparrow was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in February 1926 and Brevet Colonel in November 1930. He retired from the Territorial Army in 1932. With some copied research.