Photo: Marika Pirie

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

Born in Stepney, London on 12th January 1888, and baptised at All Hallows Church, Barking by the Tower in August, David Robert Sharp was the son of Liverpool born David Sharp, a mill worker and his wife Sarah. Their first child John was born in 1876, and they also had a younger daughter, Lillian, born in 1894. By 1891 the family had moved to live in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland where father David was foreman at the local rope works, but after he died the following year mother Sarah became a charwoman to make ends meet. Robert’s first job was as a grocer, but by 1911 he was a house painter and decorator and was living with his mother, sister and a lodger in Stratfield Street, Pallion, Sunderland.

Shortly after the census was taken in 1911 Robert emigrated to Canada, sailing from Liverpool aboard the SS Corinthian with the intention of making for Toronto as a painter, who would be willing to become a farm labourer. Two years later in the summer of 1913 Robert married his recently arrived girlfriend from Sunderland, Ethel Mary Vickers, in Banff, Alberta, where they settled and Robert found work as a painter.

On 2nd February 1915 Robert enlisted with the 50th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force in Banff, becoming Private 434713 with “A” Company, and five months later Ethel returned to live with family in Millfield, Sunderland. The 50th Battalion arrived in England at the beginning of November and were posted to camp at Bramshott, Hampshire, where Robert was appointed first Lance Corporal and then Corporal. In April 1916 the 4th Canadian Division was formed at Bramshott and the 50th Battalion was assigned to the 10th Infantry Brigade, which went to France in mid August, doing their first trench tour near Abeele a week later.

After attending a four day instructional course on PT and bayonet fighting, Corporal Sharp was promoted to Sergeant in November and was then attached to 1st Army School for more training, rejoining his Battalion on 12th January 1917 at Estree Cauchie.

On 13th February 1917 Sergeant Sharp took part in a trench raid near Souchez, France. He received multiple wounds to his arms and abdomen, and was evacuated to the 6th CCS, near Barlin as “dangerously wounded”. He died the following days from his wounds.

Robert Sharp is remembered in Sunderland on S140.04 part 9 page 200

In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance, and on the War Memorial in Banff, Alberta.

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual Memorial
The CWGC entry for Sergeant Sharp