Private Frederick Hamilton Sharpe

 

Frederick Hamilton Sharpe was born on 2 September 1897 at Gortinar, Lurganboy, County Leitrim, the last of four children of farmer John Hamilton Sharpe and his wife Anne (née Barber). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Gortinar with his parents, brother and a great-uncle. Soon after he moved to Cashelgarran in Sligo.

Sharpe enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron on 24 February 1915 (No. UD 206). The squadron embarked for France as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division on 6 October 1915. Sharpe, however, remained at the reinforcements depot at Enniskillen. He was sent to France as a reinforcement for the squadron in 1916 or the first half of 1917.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron had joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In August-September 1917 the Regiment was disbanded and its men, following training at the 36th (Ulster) Division Infantry Base Depot at Harfleur, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Sharpe, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt. Sharpe was issued regimental number 41136 and posted to A Company.

He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.

Sharpe was one of the many posted as missing following the 9th (NIH) Battalion's fighting withdrawal from St Quentin in the German spring offensive from 21 to 28 March 1918. He rejoined the battalion, however, on 7 April, and probably took part in some of the fighting in the last months of the war.

 

Sligo Independent, 23 November 1918

 

Sharpe re-enlisted at Sligo, in the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, on 10 May 1920 (Corps of Dragoons No.36830 – later Army No.394304). He served in that regiment (amalgamated in 1922 to form the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards) until transferred to the Army Reserve on 20 April 1928. He was discharged on 1 March 1932.

He married Rebecca Ellen Greer in Colaba, Bombay, India, on 26 November 1923.

 

This page last updated 4 March 2023.