The son of Mrs. Fost L. Bassett Sparks of Chatham. Norman was a graduate of the Public Schools in Chatham and the Chatham Collegiate institute and the Queen Alexander public school in London, ON. Prior to his enlistment he was a street salesman for the Chatham Daily News.

Previous Military Experience… None

History After Enlistment… Trained at Toronto and Centralia. Posted for overseas duty December 24th 1943 and served two and a half years in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, after having served in England at Wellingore, Digby, Colby Grange, Beacon Hill, Chichester, Salisbury Plains and Portsmouth. He participated in the invasion of France and was promoted to LAC. Received the C.V.S.M. the 1939-45 Star and the France and Germany Star.

The CDN 19/10/43 reported Norman was stationed at RCAF Centralia. He was on a week leave to see his mother proceeding to a new post in the new year..

The CDN 24/04/44 reported part of a letter he wrote to his mother:

“Germany hasn’t a chance against us now – I have often looked in the sky and seen swarms of bombers over head as far in the distance as you can see….stretched out from horizon to horizon.

It is not until you look around and see the rubble and ruin where German bombs have fallen that you realize what their heroic people have gone through in the last four years.”

Date of Discharge… April 18th 1946.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Awards	Canadian Voluntary Service Medal, 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star
Sources	CFF-FD44, IODE(N), CCI-RH, CDN(2)

Age	born 1922
Birthplace	Chatham
Religion	Presbyterian
When Enlisted	June 1943
Next of Kin	Mrs. Fostie L. B. Sparks (Mother)

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