Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Sharpe, a coal carter, born 1873 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Ann Sharpe (nee Towers, married in the 3rd quarter of 1891 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district), a dye trade worker, born 1874 in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Walter Thomas was born in the 4th quarter of 1896 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, his siblings were, William, born in the 1st quarter of 1892, Ellen Elizabeth, born 1893, Joseph, born 1895. Lillie May, born 1899 and Violet Millicent, born 1900, all his siblings were born in Hinckley, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at 3, Fox Yard, Hinckley, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Walter was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at 1, Tan Yard, Hinckley, Leicestershire together with his father, a gas works labourer, his mother and siblings, William, a brickyard labourer, Joseph, a brickyard labourer, Lily, a schoolgirl, Florence, a schoolgirl, born 1902, Sidney, a schoolboy, born 1903 and Arthur a schoolboy, born 1906, the latter three siblings were all born in Hinckley, Leicestershire. His elder brother William also fell. Walter enlisted into the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) to serve an engagement of 4 years on the 5th June 1914 in Hinckley, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Trinity, Hinckley, Leicestershire and his age as 17 years and 8 months. He gave his trade or calling as brickmaker. He gave his father William Sharpe and his elder brother William Sharpe of 1, Tan Yard, Hinckley, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 30½ and 34 inches. His vision was described as good and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Territorial service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 1933 on the 5/6/14. Embodied service commenced on the 5/8/14. Embarked with the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 26/2/15. Landed at Le Havre, France on the 27/2/15. Killed in action, in the field on the 5/7/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 5/6/14 – 27/2/15, 268 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 28/2/15 – 5/7/15, 128 days. Total service 1 year 31 days. The following information was provided by Walter’s father William Sharpe on the -?- July 1919, and was witnessed and signed by J. F -?-, Vicar, of Hinckley, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, William Sharpe of 1, Tan Yard, Hinckley. Mother of soldier, Emily Sharpe of 1, Tan Yard, Hinckley. Full blood brothers of soldier, Sidney Sharpe, age 16 and Arthur Sharpe, age 13, both of 1, Tan Yard, Hinckley. Full blood sisters of soldier, Ellen Wood, age 26 of White Lion Yard, Hinckley and Lily Sharpe, age 20 of 1, Tan Yard, Hinckley. Inside Walter’s service record is a memorandum dated 21st October 1915, that was sent from the War Office, Park Buildings, St. James’s Park, London S.W. and addressed to The Officer in charge of Territorial Force Records, Lichfield referring to any articles of personal personal property now in your possession belonging to the late No. 1933 Private W. T. Sharpe, 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt., should be despatched to:- No. 20132 Private William Sharpe, c/o Officer Commanding 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and that any medals granted to the deceased that are now in your possession or that may hereafter reach you should be forwarded to:- the same person. This would have been Walter’s father who was himself a serving soldier. Walter’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history. Walter was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory Medals.
The War Diary records: 5 July-15 - ZILLEBEKE. At 12 midday enemy shelled No. 3 and 4 trenches with high explosive doing slight damage in No. 3. and exploding a grenade store. Trench 4 temporarily cleared no damage. At 9.45pm Battn relieved by STAFFORD Brigade, relief complete by 11.45pm. Battn returned to hutments in OUDERDOM – VLAMERTINGHE road. Casualties during tour killed N.C.O.’s and men 7. Wounded Officers 2, N.C.O’s and men 24.
On Friday August 6th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR” – CASUALTIES AMONG TERRITORIALS. The following casualties are reported from the Base under date July 16th:-
KILLED.
Leicestershire Regiment, 5th Batt. (T.F.). Private W. T. Sharpe (1933).
WOUNDED.
North Midland Divisional Cyclist Coy. (T.F.). Sergeant T. F. Gardiner (2235).
Leicestershire Regiment, 5th Batt. (T.F.).
Private H. E. H, Bassett (1646). Sergeant A. Breed (492). Private W. Bullimore (3331). Private H. Day (2830). Private F. G. Gilbert (1567). Private W. P. O’Shaughnessey (2041).