More about William Jackson Small Sharp

service record

1. Detailed to the Instructional Cadre, MD 3 at Kingston.  Appointed Casualty Officer for MD 3 on November 04.  Promoted to Major on May 17, 1918.  Declared AWL from Kingston Armoury on August 04, 1918.  Later arrested in New York.  Returned to Kingston under escort and charged with desertion on January 24, 1919.  Although under medical care for a serious illness, he refused all further military medical care in a letter dated March 15.  The Medical Officer’s reply noted that his current condition would eventually be terminal.  Courtmartialled at Kingtson on March 26, 1919 and found guilty of desertion.  Sentenced to dismissal from the service and one year in prison.  Sentence was confirmed on April 16, 1919.Lieutenant, 21st Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Army). 1914-11-05 to 1916-04-26.Note: Pay Card entry dated February 03, 1915 shows him promoted to Captain, but all other documents show his rank as Lieutenant.  Sailed to England with the 21st Battalion aboard SS Metagama from Montreal to Devonport, May 06-15, 1915.  The battalion was posted to West Sandling Camp for further training.  The battalion proceeded to France with the Second Canadian Division on September 14/15.  From November 08-14 he was on course at the Bombing School.  Was wounded in the right hand on January 24, 1916 near La Clyte, Belgium.  Evacuated to England aboard the HS Brighton on February 05.  He had surgery to repair cartilage damage to his right knee five days later.  He was discharged from hospital on February 26 and granted leave to Canada at his own expense.  He returned aboard the SS Sicilian, March 11-23, 1916.  Struck off strength from the CEF Overseas on April 26, 1916 in consequence of having been retained in Canada.
2. Major Sharp disappeared on the evening of August 02, 1918. His clothes and a towel were found on the bank of Lake Ontario near the Cataraqui River in Kingston, Ontario. Foul play, suicide or perhaps accidental drowning were suspected, but it was soon obvious that none of these had happened. In December he was arrested in New York City, New York and returned under escort a month later. Cashiered from the service and sentenced to one year in prison for “while on active service was Absent Without leave” on April 17, 1919 at Kingston, Ontario. He is possibly the highest ranking Canadian officer convicted of desertion during World War One.
   1. Following completion of his sentence his wife filed for divorce which was finalized 03.12.1921. He then emigrated to Australia in 1923 and sometime after his arrival he married  Zellah Kathleen McPherson. On June 4th William Attested in the Australian Military Forces Headquarters S.C. Signals where he was appointed as an Operator Signals Specialist Group II. He rose through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class II before being discharged as medically unfit, Feb 3, 1943 with a diagnosis of Chronic Nephritis and Hyperpiesis.

William died 11th April 1955