Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Harold Sharpe, shoe trade finisher, born 1871 in Littlethorpe, Leicestershire, and his wife Elizabeth Sharpe (nee Jordan, married in the 2nd quarter of 1890 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1870 in Peckleton, Leicestershire, who was the daughter of Thomas and Annie Jordan of the Bulls Head Inn, Peckleton, Leicestershire. Walter’s mother died in the 4th quarter of 1900, aged 31 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district. Walter Thomas was born in the 1st quarter of 1893 in Narborough, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 7th May 1893 in Narborough Parish Church, he had one sibling, a sister, Ethel Evelyne Jordan, born on the 5th November 1890 in Narborough and was baptised on the 18th January 1891 in Narborough Parish Church, in March 1901 the family home was at 7, Alexandra Street, Narborough. On the 20th April 1908, Walter’s father married Lucy Riley of 17, Ruding Road Leicester in The Martyrs Church, Leicester. In April 1911 Walter was employed as a concrete work’s finisher and was residing in the family home at Huncote Road, Narborough, together with his father, a boot and shoe trade finisher, his stepmother Lucy Sharpe, born on the 25th October 1878 in Desford, Leicestershire and his half blood sister Edith Edna, born 22nd December 1909 in Narborough and was baptised on the 6th March 1910 in Narborough Parish Church. In 1939, Walter’s widowed step mother was residing in the family home at 3, Bell Lane, Narborough, together with her son Harold Ernest Sharp, a part time office cleaner and concrete factory carpenter, born 19th January 1913 in Narborough.
Walter enlisted into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 3 years with the Colours on the 8th September 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Leicester and his age as 21 years and 158 days. He gave his father Joseph Harold Sharpe and his mother Lucy of Huncote Road, Narborough, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4½ inches in height, weighed 118 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 35½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 14827 on the 8/9/14. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the -?-/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Reported died in Hospital in Germany of pneumonia on the 29/10/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 8/9/14 – 28/7/15, 324 days. British Expeditionary Force France, 29/7/15 - -?-. The following information was provided by Walter’s father Joseph Sharpe on the 19th November 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?- Tomlinson, Clerk in Holy Orders of Narborough Rectory, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Joseph Harold Sharpe of Huncote Road, Narborough. Mother of soldier, Lucy Sharpe (Step mother) of Huncote Road, Narborough. Full blood brothers of soldier, none. Half blood brothers of soldier, Harold Ernest Sharpe, age 6 of Huncote Road, Narborough. Full blood sisters of soldier, Ethel Evelyn Green, age 29 of King Street, Whetstone. Half blood sisters of soldier, Edith Edna Sharpe, age 9 of Huncote Road, Narborough. 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 War and Victory Medals.