Name
Ernest Sharp
10 April 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/07/1916
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14291
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Battalion
Machine Gun Section
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Woolmer Green War Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Roll of Honour, Welwyn, St Michael & All Angels Church Memorial (paper sheet), Woolmer Green
Pre War
Ernest Sharp was born in on 10 April 1886 in Woolmer Green, nr Welwyn, Herts, the son of James and Ann Sharp of New Road, Woolmer Green and one of eleven children, although four had died by 1911. He was baptised in Welwyn on 2 May 1886.
The family were living at Potters Heath, Codicote in 1891 but by 1901 they were back in Woolmer Green and Ernest was working as a Farm Servant said to have been employed by Mr W Darby for several years prior to joining up. However, on the 1911 Census he was a patient at the Hertford Convalescent Home at West Hill, St Leonards on Sea, Nr Hastings in Sussex.
His parents address was given on pension records as New Road, Woolmer Green, Knebworth, Herts.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted in Welwyn, Herts and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, serving in France with the 1st Battalion from 27 April 1915. He was one of a draft of 300 men who arrived at Ouderdom, Belgium, with three officers on 30 April 1915.
In early May the Battalion were subjected to gas attacks by the enemy and the war diary states that all were badly affected and there was desperate fighting all day on 5 May with bombs, hand grenades, rifle and machine gun fire.
Ernest was reported missing in July 1916 during the Battle of Delville Wood on 27 July but, according to a local newspaper report, his death was not confirmed to his parents until nine months later. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £8 10s and pay owing of £27 17s 4d. She also received a pension of 2 shillings a week which was later increased to 7 shillings a week from 2 October 1917.
Brothers also serving: Arthur in the veterinary section, Frank in the Royal Engineers and Herbert in the Royal Fusiliers.
A memorial service was held at Woolmer Green Church as the family were long term residents in the village. His father was employed by Mr S Wallace for over thirty years.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
