Sparling (1890 - 1972) served as a sergeant (and as Orderly Room clerk) in the 12th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment (Sheffield City Battalion, or Sheffield Pals) in World War One. In 1911 he lived at 35 Pickering Road, Sheffield with his widowed mother, Annie, and his brother George, sister in law Mary Ellen and his niece Marjorie (aged 3). Richard was described as a 'sports and pastimes reporter'. He joined up in September 1914 aged 24. In civilian life he was a sports writer / journalist. He is shown on the 1911 census for Pickering Road aged 20 and is described as a sports writer for a newspaper. Later, he was sports editor of Sheffield Daily Telegraph. He married Millie Archer, whilst on leave from Active Service in August 1915. They had two daughters, Joan ( - 1990) and Marie ( - 2004).

Original photograph at Sheffield Archives MD7766/1/18.