More about Charles Sharp

For reasons unknown this man is not listed on the original Dundee Roll of Honour, but is remembered on the Dundee Orphanage Roll of Honour.

A.B. Charles Sharp, of the Howe Battalion is reported missing.  The sad news is contained in a letter to the master of the Dundee Orphanage, where Sharp was a pupil.

Along with another pupil, the writer of the letter, Sharp joined the R.N.D., when seventeen years of age, and the two lads had since then kept together.

Dundee Courier May 9th 1917

Charles Sharp was an Dundee Orphanage boy who gave his address as c/o Mrs Collins of 7 Alexander Street, Dundee and his next of kin was his sister Jane Sharp of the Orphanage, Ferry Road, Dundee. He was an Apprentice Plumber when he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division in August 1915. After initial Naval training at the Crystal Palace in South London he went to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training in October. On completion he was drafted to the Howe Battalion in February 1916 which had just been evacuated from Gallipoli and undergoing garrison duties in the Aegean. In May the Battalion sailed for Marseille and began training for service on the Western Front in France and Belgium. In August Charles Sharp was hospitalised and again in February 1917. He would have taken part in the final Somme battle in November when the RND suffered heavy casualties. On 23 April 1917 the Howe Battalion was kept in close support for the battle to seize Gavrelle Village. During the evening they moved forward in small groups under German shellfire to relieve the Hood Battalion. The Battalion occupied a 400 yard front and in the morning of the 24th took about 60 prisoners who emerged from hiding. More German shellfire hit the Howe during the next 18 hours while their soldiers attempted an attack on the Howe trenches which was repulsed. About 100 casualties were suffered by the Howe and Charles Sharp was killed in action. His body was not found and he is commemorated on Panel 1 of the Arras Memorial in France as well as the Dundee Orphanage Roll of Honour.