The Yeronga Memorial Park, with its solemn cenotaph, has long stood as a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who served from the Stephens Shire during World War I. However, the memorial’s integrity was challenged when the community discovered that the tablet included the names of civic officials instead of solely honouring the soldiers.
In 1922, the community was stirred into action upon learning that the Memorial Tablet at Yeronga Memorial Park listed not just the soldiers who had given their lives but also several local councillors, including the Chairman and members of the Stephens Shire Council.
A heated debate ensued at local meetings over including councillors’ names, deemed insulting to service members. The public demanded their removal.
The Campaign for Justice
Central to the dispute was the campaign led by the family of Sgt William Percival Sparkes, a Gallipoli veteran and war hero, whose name was initially excluded from the tablet due to bureaucratic stipulations that he did not die overseas.
The relentless efforts of Sparkes’ mother and sister highlighted the perceived inequity in the tablet’s inscriptions, putting pressure on the local government to amend this oversight.
The controversy reached a turning point when the Governor of Queensland intervened, suggesting at a public ceremony that the councillors’ contributions paled in comparison to the sacrifices made by the soldiers.
Subsequently, the council agreed to remove the non-military names, aligning the memorial solely with those who fought and died in the war.
Who was Sgt William Percival Sparkes?
Sgt William Percival Sparkes was a distinguished soldier and a significant figure in the local community of Stephens Shire. Before the war, he lived in his,”Glen View” home on Annerley Road. His life and military service shed light on the bravery of those who fought and the complexities of post-war recognition.
Born in 1882, Sparkes was an advertising manager for the Allan & Stark department store in Brisbane before the war. Well-known in local musical, sporting, and horticultural circles, he enlisted as a gunner in the 3rd Brigade Field Artillery on 20 August 1914, just as World War I began.
Military Service
Rapid advancements and commendations marked Sparkes’ military career. After training, he was deployed to Egypt with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF). His exceptional skills in artillery earned him a promotion to bombardier, followed by further promotions due to his gallantry and leadership at Gallipoli.
He landed with the first Anzacs in April 1915 and was soon Mentioned in Despatches for his acts of bravery under fire. Despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds in May 1915, he returned to the front lines after recovering.
The physical toll of the war significantly impacted Sparkes. He developed a heart murmur attributed to the stress of his service, leading to his discharge in October 1917 as permanently unfit for military duty.
Returning to Brisbane, he rejoined Allan & Stark and ventured into politics, standing for the Buranda seat in the State Legislative Assembly in 1918. Despite his efforts, he was defeated, a campaign marred by personal attacks on his military record.
Advocacy for Recognition
In the post-war years, Sparkes was involved in another battle, this time for recognition at the Yeronga Memorial Park. His initial exclusion from the Memorial Tablet due to not dying overseas sparked a campaign by his family, emphasising the inconsistency in the memorial’s criteria, given that non-military personnel were included.
Death and Legacy
William Percival Sparkes passed away on 15 December 1921, from an aortic aneurysm, which doctors attributed to his war service. His papers, including war diaries, were later acquired by the State Library of New South Wales, preserving his legacy.
Meanwhile, the Yeronga Memorial Park now stands corrected, reflecting only the names of those soldiers from the Stephens Shire who served their country with valour.
Published 28-April-2024
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