William Sharpe

A Private with the 1/4th Battalion, William died on 18th of August 1916 at the age of 36. 

William was born at Lowestoft in 1880, a son of William and Eliza Sharpe. In 1881 his family lived at 1 Whapload Road. By 1901 they were living at 9 Lighthouse Score, Whapload Road, and William was a boat builder’s labourer. Later his family lived at 42 Seago Street. In 1911 Wiliam lodged at 37 Trafalgar Street and he was a fishing industry storekeeper.

William enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 4389, and was posted to the 1/4th Battalion, in France, in 1916. 

On 14 August 1916 the 1/4th Battalion moved into an area of trenches known as Seaforth, Black Watch and Worcester Trenches, near High Wood. At 2.45 p.m. on 18 August the battalion attacked the German trenches opposite their position as part of a brigade assault. D and C Companies reached the German line but had to retire as they had both flanks ‘in the air’ and no reinforcements were forthcoming. Two Lewis rifles (machine-guns) were positioned in the German trench and hostile bombing attacks repulsed. Finally, the men withdrew to Seaforth Trench. 

In the attack the battalion had three officers killed and three wounded, and 33 other ranks killed, 108 wounded, 17 missing presumed killed and 23 missing.  

William was reported missing on 18 August 1916 and it was not until July 1917 that it was concluded that he had been killed in action on 18 August. As he was missing, and his fate unknown, he was renumbered, as 201478, in March 1917, but he would never have known or used that service number.