Name
Walter William Sharp
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
137636
121st Siege Battery
Ammunition Column
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Walter Sharp was born in the spring of 1892 at Abbots Langley. Walter and his brother Alfred had been born to John and Elizabeth Sharp. Alfred was born at St Stephens (St Albans) in 1889, and at the time of the 1891 Census the family lived at Brightling, Sussex, where John worked as a Stockman. In 1892, when Walter was born the family lived at Abbots Langley. However by the time of the 1901 Census his mother, Elizabeth had married William Hobbs, a Carter on a farm, and the new family lived at Kemprow, Aldenham. Presumably his father John had died.
On 25th December 1911 Walter married Ann Clements at Purley in Surrey. He attested to the Army Service Corps (ASC) at Osterly Park on 1st November 1915. He had previously been employed as a Garage Motor Driver and lived at the High Street, Abbots Langley. On 11th March 1916 Walter was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal without pay whilst at Avonmouth.
Walter was recorded for the first time in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in July 1916, serving with the Motor Transport section of the Army Service Corps (MTASC). On 11th July 1916 Walter embarked on SS “Queen” at Folkestone, and disembarked later that day at Boulogne. At the time Walter served with 26 Section Heavy Artillery Motor Transport (HAMT) attached to the 121 Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Throughout 1916 and 1917 Walter frequently was transferred between Motor Transport Companies, often only spending a few weeks with each. On 27th July 1917 he was appointed to the rank Lance Corporal whilst with 335 Motor Transport Company.
Walter went on leave between 12th and 22nd September 1917, and on 1st November was granted the Good Conduct Badge, 1st Class. He continued to be transferred between Motor Transport Companies through to the end of the War. He received leave between 12th and 16th October 1918, and returned to serve through to the summer of 1919.
Walter was listed in the Absent Voter Records in Autumn 1918, Spring 1919, and Autumn 1919, serving with the 121st Siege Battery Ammunition Column (SBAC) of the MTASC. At the time his address was given at High Street Abbots Langley.
He was examined for demobilisation at Wissant (between Boulogne and Calais, on the French coast) on 20th August 1919 and transferred to England for release on 24th August. Walter was demobilised on 22nd September 1919 to “The Laundry”, High Street, Abbots Langley. His Service Record noted that he had been employed as a Driver and Despatch Rider, and was of sober, reliable and intelligent character and was a trustworthy motor cyclist and very good Despatch Rider and Caterpillar Driver.
Walter Sharp survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly Motor Transport Army Service Corps; 26 Section Heavy Artillery Motor Transport
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
