Sharp Arthur 1918

Joseph Arthur Sharp. Thanks to Steve Gray and family for the supply of this photo

(Joseph) Arthur Sharp. Died 21st August 1918.
Arthur Sharp’s name is read out each during the St Sebastian’s Remembrance Service. The names were provided by the local people and mostly there is a Wokingham connection of some sort. Steve Gray, Great grandson of Joseph Arthur Sharp, provides the following research to help discover if his was the intended name.

‘There are two records for Joseph Sharp and the top one (Joseph Arthur Sharp) is my great grandfather.
1. Joseph Arthur Sharp. Born 1882 Apr-May-Jun Henley Oxfordshire
2. Joseph Sharp. Born 1875 Oct-Nov-Dec Henley Oxfordshire
Neither of these records matches the age on the CWGC site of 39, but I expect this is a clerical error. Most of the dates for the second Joseph Sharp on the 1881 – 1911 Census give a date of about 1876, so I believe he is the one that was the son of William Sharp and Harriett Sharp and the husband of Ellen and father of Daisy May. (editor comment: The family photo of Joseph Arthur Sharp shows a man born later than 1875) Another reason to discount the older JA Sharp is that there is a death record with an 1875 birth date: Date of Registration: Dec 195? Age at Death: 76, Registration District: Wokingham, Inferred County: Berkshire, Volume: 6a, Page: 222.
My Great grandfather was born in 1882 in Caversham, he was the son of Tom Sharp 1841 – 1914 and Martha Carter 1843 – 1887. On the 1891 Census they are living at Row Lane Cottages, Emmergreen, Caversham, Oxfordshire and on the 1901 Census he is living with his father Tom at 2 Kily Cottages, Emmergreen. On the 24th March 1910 he married Florence Mary Crew at The Free Church, Caversham and the 1911 Census has them living at 49 Briants Avenue Caversham with their son Albert who was one year old. My Grandmother Nelly Doris Sharp, was born 27th April 1913 at 1 Star Cottages, Southview Avenue, Caversham, Joseph Arthur’s profession is listed as a seed merchants labourer.
The family story was always that he died in the First World War. From what I can tell he joined up early in the War and his original regiment was the 2nd Hampshires. I would imagine that this is because his Mother was born in Hampshire. This fact is backed up by the only picture we have of him dressed in military uniform. He is listed on the Sutton Seeds War Memorial (J. A Sharp 2nd Hampshires) which was rescued from the Sutton Seeds site and is now housed in Brock Barracks, Reading: http://www.pottsvctrust.org/WM5214.pdf
The 11th (Service) Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders was formed in France in 1918 from fragments of other regiments and was initially mainly made up of English Soldiers which explains why Joseph Arthur ended up in the Cameron Highlanders. The 2nd Hampshires were involved in action around Nieppe Forest as were the Cameron Highlanders and this is where he is buried.’

Name: SHARP, JOSEPH ARTHUR
Initials: J A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Cameron Highlanders
Unit Text: 11th Bn.
Age: 39
Date of Death: 21/08/1918
Service No: 49873
Additional information: Husband of Mrs. Sharp, of Roseberry Cottage, Crown St., Reading.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 1.
Cemetery: NIEPPE-BOIS (RUE-DU-BOIS) BRITISH CEMETERY, VIEUX-BERQUIN

Dunoden Green and Emmer Green, Oxfordshire
Roseberry Cottage, Crown Street, Reading (wife)

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The two question marks on whether or not JA Sharp is the Arthur Sharp on Wokingham War Memorial is most obviously a varying first name and secondly the lack of connection that exists with Wokingham. However, we have often found that families used a person’s second name and Arthur could have been the name his family used for him. Although there is no connection known at present with Wokingham, the Memorial was unveiled in 1924 and the family could have moved into the town just before this date. There is also evidence that the name of Arthur Sharp was a late entrant, which could support this argument. It should also be noted that we found no Arthur Sharp who had connections with Wokingham and died in the war, other than this JA Sharp.
Whatever the arguments for or against, we are honoured to be able to place Joseph Arthur Sharp on the Wokingham Remembers Roll of Honour. Many thanks for Steve’s help in compiling the above information and for the supply of Joseph’s photograph.