Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
Sgt Sparkes was killed when Bristol Blenheim IV V6039 GB-Q of 105 Squadron was shot down whilst attacking a German shipping convoy off The Hague. The Belnheim was hit by flak from one of the ships and crashed with the loss of its three crew. Sgt Sparkes' body was recovered from the beach at Bergen san Zee.
A Dutch website, now offline, had the following:
Selwyn Sparkes was born in 1916, son of William T. and Rachael Sparkes, of South Shields, Co. Durham. He was married to Elizabeth Edith Sparkes.
He was educated at South Shields Boys High School.
Selwyn was an wireless operator/air gunner with 105 squadron, flying Blenheims out of Swanton Morley in Norfolk. The squadron had been posted to Lossiemouth, Morayshire for a few weeks in May 1941, but returned to Swanton Morley on 21 May. The squadron was at this time mainly tasked with the attacks of enemy shipping off the coast of occupied Europe.
On July 19 1941 the crew took off from Swanton-Morley in Blenheim V6039, GB-Q. With four others they were send out to attack German shipping off the Dutch coast. Eight motor ships escorted by six flak ships were sighted two miles off Scheveningen. The Blenheims attacked the convoy that was on a northerly course.
One Blenheim, flown by Smithers, attacked the leading ship, hitting it and leaving it burning fiercely. F/L Broadley left another smoking amidships and a third was left burning by Sgt Jackson. Sgt Farrow's four bombs hit a 4000 tonner which exploded, but moments later his crippled Blenheim plunged into the sea. Sgt Taylor then had a go at the same ship, but missed and was shot down by anti aircraft fire from a flak ship.
Sgt S. Sparkes was found on the beach of Bergen aan Zee on 28 July 1941 and was buried the next day.
He is remembered at South Shields on: S86.027 and S86.084 and at Westoe on W101.08
