Thomas John (Tom) SHARPE MM

Thomas John (Tom) SHARPE MM Update Details

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SHARPE, Thomas John

Service Number:	2743
Enlisted:	Not yet discovered
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	55th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Not yet discovered
Home Town:	Braidwood, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Died of long term effects of gassing in war, Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia, 3 October 1924, age not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Braidwood Cemetery, New South Wales
Memorials:	Braidwood War Memorial

World War 1 Service

7 Oct 1916:	Involvement Private, 2743, 55th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: ''
7 Oct 1916:	Embarked Private, 2743, 55th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney
Date unknown:	Honoured Military Medal, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, Military Medal 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as a stretcher bearer during an attack on the Hindenburg Line North of BELLICOURT on 30th September 1918. When Private SHARPE's Company went forward to attack an enemy strong position which was holding up the advance, the attacking troops came under very heavy Machine Gun and rifle fire. Considerably reduced by casualties, the Company was compelled to withdraw about 100 yards. Amongst the wounded left out in front was this soldier's Company Commander who had received serious wounds in the legs. Private SHARPE, jumping out of a trench, went to the assistance of the unfortunate officer, moving forward under a hail of bullets, and, after carefully dressing the wounds, carried him back to our lines. But for this stretcher bearer's prompt and gallant action the officer may have fallen into enemy hands.' Recommended by: E.B. Stutonbury, Major Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109 Date: 15 September 1919

Help us honour Thomas John Sharpe's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Helen digan

Next of kin was listed as his father, William Robert Sharpe, Braidwood, New South Wales.

An article by Mary Anne Bunn in the Braidwood Times of Wednesday, April 22, 2009 noted that Tom and his brother Charlie Sharpe both returned to Australia after the war, but Tom's health soon deteriorated and he was hospitalised in Sydney. The same article noted Tom had suffered pneumonia, pleurisy and tuberculosis while on active service.

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