Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

When Charles Octavius Sharp enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private C. Sharp, Russell Street, Toowoomba. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 103 notes, like a number of the men, he was seconded to the South African Police between 1 May 1900 and 19 Jun 1900. He served the full tour of the 1st QMI returning to Brisbane where he was discharged on 23 Jan 1901.

Charles Octavius Sharp was born on 2 May 1868 at Sydney, NSW, a son to George William Sharp and Emma Maria Ryan. He married  Esther May Ryan on 9 Jul 1903 in Queensland and they resided in Toowoomba where they had 6 children. As detailed in his obituary, transcribed below, he was born in Sydney in 1868 and ventured to Toowoomba in 1895. He was working at the Filshie and Broadfoot Sawmill in 1899 when he enlisted for the Boer War. On his return he persued a number of occupations principally stock dealing and farming.

Obituray: Mr. C. Sharp- The Toowoomba Chronicle, 13 Sep 1955, p. 6.

A link with Toowoomba's earlier days was severed on August 31 with the death of Boer War veteran and former well-known horseman, Mr. Charles Octavius ("Charlie") Sharp.

Mr. Sharp who was widely known in Toowoomba, was among the first 14 volunteers of this town to enlist for service in South Africa. His regimental number, in the Queensland Mounted Rifles, was 107. He served for some time at Orange River, breaking-in remounts, and it is recorded that on one occasion he and his mate, another Toowoomba man, rode 380 horses in a day.

Born in Sydney in 1868, Mr. Sharp was educated at the old Fort Street school for boys. After leaving school he worked at various jobs, including carpentering and cabinet making, but his love for stock work soon made him leave the city and move to the Northern Rivers district, where his elder brother George had a farming property near Woodburn. After a period there, he lived in Sydney again before coming North.

Mr. Sharp came to Toowoomba about 1895. He was employed by Messrs. Filshie and Broadfoot until, on the outbreak of the South African War, he joined the Colours and saw active service with the Forces. After the war he returned to Toowoomba, and at various periods engaged in cattle and horse dealing, conducted a livery stable in Bell Street, and was the proprietor of a horse "bus service". He added further laurels to his fame as a horseman by riding from Inglewood to Toowoomba- about 97 miles- in one day.

In 1910 Mr. Sharp purchased the property now known as Edgecliffe, and which today is surrounded by Prince Henry Drive. In those days the area was known as The Pocket paddock. Mr. Sharp engaged in farming and stock dealing, and also, for some years, he drove a horse team from the quarry.

Mr Sharp married Miss Esther May Ryan, of Sydney, who predeceased him almost three years ago. He is survived by three sons, Messrs. Walter and Frank (Toowoomba) and Albert (Taringa); and by two daughters, Mrs. Edith Saunders (Ravensbourne) and Mrs. Stella Sadler (Nambour). There are nine grandchildren.

Since the death of his wife, Mr. Sharp had spent most of his time at the homes of his daughters. The last few weeks of his life were spent at the home of his youngest son Frank Sharp of Sorris Street, Toowoomba. His death occured in the General Hospital after an illness of only a few days. The funeral moved to the Toowoomba Cemetery from St. Luke's Church. The Rev. F. G. Knight officiated.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 451; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 103).