John Barnes Sparks

Captain John Barnes Sparks, C.B.E., (31 May, 1873 – 29 March, 1920) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Sparks was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 14 August, 1894.

Sparks was gazetted in the Sirdar Despatch on the Nile Expedition as having done good service on 30 September, 1898.

He was appointed in command of the gunvessel Landrail on 30 June, 1903. He was reprimanded after a Court Martial found that he had stranded her and hazarded her in 1903. He paid her off on 5 June, 1905.

Sparks was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1905.

Great War

Sparks was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1914.

Sparks was appointed in command of the destroyer Amazon on 18 January, 1909.

Sparks was appointed in command of the scout cruiser Pathfinder on 17 January, 1911.

Sparks was appointed Captain (D) of the depot ship Hecla on 22 August, 1917.

Sparks died at the young age of 46 of a malignant growth in his gullet which had required his relief as Captain (D), Nore Reserve.

See Also

• Wikipedia

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/43.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/90.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/141.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Douglas E. R. Brownrigg	Captain of H.M.S. Violet 8 Mar, 1899 – 29 Apr, 1900	Succeeded by Charles E. Le Mesurier
Preceded by Adolphus H. Williamson	Captain of H.M.S. Columbine 15 Jun, 1900 – 25 Apr, 1903	Succeeded by Arthur G. K. Hill
Preceded by Trevylyan D. W. Napier	Captain of H.M.S. Spiteful 11 Jan, 1901 – 3 Jan, 1903	Succeeded by Douglas R. L. Nicholson
Preceded by Stewart A. Perry-Ayscough	Captain of H.M.S. Landrail 30 Jun, 1903 – 5 Jun, 1905	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Oscar M. Makins	Captain of H.M.S. Skipjack 3 Jul, 1905 – 1 Jan, 1906	Succeeded by Robert W. F. Travers
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Amazon 18 Jan, 1909 – 17 Jan, 1911	Succeeded by Henry G. L. Oliphant
Preceded by Arthur K. Waistell	Captain of H.M.S. Pathfinder 17 Jan, 1911 – 1 Jul, 1913	Succeeded by Francis M. Leake
Preceded by William H. D. Boyle	Captain of H.M.S. Skirmisher 1 Jul, 1913 – 2 Sep, 1913	Succeeded by Francis G. St. John
Preceded by Herbert A. Adam	Captain of H.M.S. Prince George 2 Sep, 1913 – 15 Dec, 1913	Succeeded by Henry F. G. Talbot
Preceded by Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt	Captain of H.M.S. Blake 15 Dec, 1913 – 12 Oct, 1915	Succeeded by Cecil Maxwell-Lefroy
Preceded by James R. P. Hawksley	Captain (D), Second Destroyer Flotilla 12 Oct, 1915 – Oct, 1919	Succeeded by Colin K. MacLean
Preceded by Percy Withers	Captain of H.M.S. Hecla 22 Aug, 1917 – 1 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Adrian H. Smyth
Preceded by Henry L. Bethune as Captain of H.M.S. Victorious II	Captain of H.M.S. Prince George 1 Mar, 1919 – Oct, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Charles A. W. Wrightson as Captain of the Nore Local Defence Flotilla	Captain (D), Nore Reserve Flotilla 1 Mar, 1919 – 30 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by John F. Grant-Dalton
Preceded by Adrian H. Smyth	Captain of H.M.S. Hecla Oct, 1919 – 30 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by John F. Grant-Dalton