Name
George Sharp
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/05/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
13821
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TANK CEMETERY, GUEMAPPE
Special Memorial A. 39. Buried near this spot.
France
Headstone Inscription
Their glory shall not be blotted out
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
George was born in Hitchin and resided in Charlton. He was married to Sarah Sharp and they had five children, the eldest of whom was eleven. Their home was at ‘Glenview’, 20, Pulters Way, Hitchin. Another address given for him, probably later, was Charlton near Hitchin.
He was employed at the Great Northern Locomotive Works before being mobilised.
Wartime Service
He was probably in the Royal Artillery in September 1914. Later he was transferred to the Bedfords and allocated Regimental Number 13821 in the 6th Battalion of the Regiment. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1915.
He was wounded in the right arm and foot on the 16th July 1916 and did not return to France until March 1917. It may have been then that he was posted to the Bedfords. He was promoted to Corporal at Easter in 1917 - presumably around the time of his posting.
He was killed in France during the morning when the trenches were heavily shelled. He and a Lance Corporal were killed instantly when a shell burst in their section of the trench.
An article in the Hertfordshire Express of the 9th of June 1917 reported that his wife had received the news of his death in a letter from his Army Chaplain A. G. Parkham. He wrote: "During the morning the trenches which deceased's company was holding were heavily shelled by the enemy, and he and Lance-Corporal W. Draper were killed instantly by a shell bursting in the trench. Both were buried during the night in the British cemetery on the battlefield, with all respect and reverence they could pay to men who had nobly given their lives for their country. This cemetery, like others on the battlefields, will be preserved and kept scared for ever by the French Government. Permanent memorials will be erected, with the names of the brave men who lie there inscribed upon them. I have heard how universally he was liked and valued, and how greatly his death will be felt. May God comfort you and console you in your great trouble."
The Battalion was in the Arras area and on the 18th May 1917 they moved to Moutenescourt. The next day they went into trenches at Tilloy, but did not go to the front line trenches until the 24th May.
As referenced in the Chaplain's letter he was buried in a British Cemetery on the battlefield. His grave is now Row A, Grave 39, which is part of Tank Cemetery in France, is marked "Buried near this spot".
Additional Information
His widow, Sarah Sharp, of 16 Kendale Road, Hitchin, ordered his headstone inscription: "Their glory shall not be blotted out". At the time of his death she was recorded at "Glenview", 20, Putters Way, Hitchin, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
