Name
William Saunders Sharpe
23/09/1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/12/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
32963
Essex Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TINCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
III. D. 21.
France
Headstone Inscription
"WE SHALL MEET AGAIN"
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Not on the Waltham Cross Memorial
Pre War
William Saunders Sharpe was born on 23rd September 1888, in Waltham Abbey, Essex, son of Sarah Louisa Sharpe.
Sarah married Frederick Saunders in 1890, the marriage was registered in Edmonton, Middx, they went on to have twelve children although four died in infancy.
1891 Census records William aged 2, living with his Grandparents, William and Susan Sharpe and his four uncles, in Quaker Lane, Waltham Holy Cross, Essex.
William was Baptised on 27th September 1891, at the Church of Waltham Holy Cross and St. Lawrance, Essex.
1901 Census William aged 12, is recorded as William Saunders, living with his parents, sisters Ellen (9), Mable (4 months), brothers Harry (4) and Frederick (2) at, Windmill Lane, Hampton Place, Cheshunt, Herts.
1911 Census records William (22), single, a Nursery Hand Tomato Grower, and Boarding with widower Charles Fisher and his daughter Theresa Julia Fisher, at 9 Colvin Cottages, Swanfield Road, Waltham Cross, Herts. William marred Theresa Julia Fisher in late 1911, they went on to have two children Theresa Ethal Louise Sharpe (B 1912) and Charles William Harry Sharpe (B 1916).
Wartime Service
William enlisted at Cheshunt, Herts, posted to the Suffolk Regiment with the service number 34192, later transferred to the Essex Regiment with the service number 32963, and promoted to the Rank of Lance Corporal.
William died on 3rd December 1917 of wounds received in action, at the Battle of Cambria (20th November – 7th December 1917). He is buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery, Tincourt, France. It is possible he died at No 5. Casualty Clearing Station as it was located at Tincourt in December 1917.
Additional Information
Theresa received a widow's pension of £1-5s-5d, a week from 10th June 1918, and his effects of £5-00s-6d pay owing and his war gratuity of £6.
His widow ordered his headstone inscription, while living at 9 Swanfield Road, Waltham Cross, Herts., in reads: ""WE SHALL MEET AGAIN".
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
