SHARP, Douglas
| Service Number: | 6902 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 February 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Manchester England, February 1879 |
| Home Town: | Archies Creek, Bass Coast, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Mill hand |
| Died: | Accidental, At Sea from HMAT Ascanius (A11), Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Sierra Leone, United Kingdom, 1 July 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Private Douglas Sharp is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England. , Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bass Glen Forbes Roll of Honor WW1, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Feb 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6902, 22nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 May 1917: | Involvement Private, 6902, 22nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 11 May 1917: | Embarked Private, 6902, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK
Died on this date - 1st July......Private Douglas Sharp was born at Manchester, England around 1879. He arrived in Australia (date unknown) & enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 28th February, 1917 as a 38 year old, single, Millhand from Archie’s Creek, South Gippsland, Victoria.
Private Sharp embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on 11th May, 1917 with the 22nd Infantry Battalion, 19th Reinforcements.
Private Douglas Sharp was admitted to Ship’s Hospital on 22nd June, 1917 with a fractured skull. He died at 8.45 pm on 1st July, 1917 at Sea on board HMAT Ascanius (A11) from a fractured Skull.
A Court of Enquiry was held on board H.M.A.T. A 11 “Ascanius” while at Sea on 1st July, 1917 inquiring into and reporting upon the injuries received by No. 6902 Private Douglas Sharp. The full account of the Enquiry can be found in my research (see link below) but a brief version was that several soldiers had met up & had some drinks on 20th June, 1917 while they were stopped over at Cape Town on the way to England. An argument occurred between a Corporal Tingay & a Private Curtain & Tingay punched Curtain.
Private Sharp took Tingay aside to ask why he had hit Curtain when Tingay then punched Sharp who fell to the ground & hit his head on the kerb. He was taken back to the Ship after being unconscious & dazed. A witness at the Enquiry stated that 3 days before they had arrived at Cape Town he & Private Sharp had been washing up dishes when the boat rolled & Sharp's foot slipped & he fell back hitting the back of his head on the floor.
The Court found that Private Sharp had died as a result of a blow delivered by Pte (ex-acting Corporal) Lewis James Tingay.
Lieutenant-Colonel J. Hutchinson, O.C. Troops, H.M.A.T. “Ascanius” wrote to The Secretary, Department of Defence, Melbourne, Australia on 5th July, 1917 from Sierra Leone advising of the death of No. 6902 Private Douglas Sharp at sea on 1st July, 1917 from a fracture of the skull. The letter ends with “No. 6939 Private L. J. Tingay, 19/22nd Infantry Reinforcements has been remanded for trial by Civil Court on arrival in England.”
Private Douglas Sharp was buried at Sea on 2nd July, 1917 from HMAT Ascanius (A11). Private Douglas Sharp is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/s---t.html
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