Pte 23827 William Henry Sharp

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

23827 Private William Henry Sharp, 20^th Battalion KLR.

William Henry Sharp was born in Liverpool in the March quarter of 1891. His mother Mary (nee Jones) was born in Ellesmere, Shropshire. His mother, Mary Jones’, first marriage was to Charles Wallis in 1872 in Wrexham. William’s half-sister Mary Wallis was born in Gobowen, near Oswestry, Salop in early 1883, around the same time when Charles died at the age of 31. 

In 1901 William is with his mother and half sister at 402 Price Street, Birkenhead.  His widowed mother Mary, 52, manages a pork butcher’s shop. Mary, 18, is a general domestic servant.  William is shown as 11 years old.

In 1911 William, now 20, is living at 1 Grosvenor Road, Birkenhead, servant to Ambrose Grayson, shipbuilder. His mother, Mary Sharp, is lodging with the McKnight family at 6 Mount Grove, Birkenhead. She was widowed, aged 63, a laundress, but declared that she was married 41 years, had 4 children with 3 still alive (entry crossed out). 

He married 23 year old Ruth Jenkinson on the 12th December 1914 at St Luke’s Church, Lower Tranmere, William’s father was given as also William Henry, Ruth’s father was Isaac. They set up home at 59 Priory Road, Birkenhead. 

William had enlisted in November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 23827.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

William was killed in action on the 01st July 1916 during the attack on Montauban.

20^th Battalion

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am. After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3^rd wave. No.4 Company in the 4^th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1^st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3^rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2^nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brough a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file , 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2^nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2^nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.   

William's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

William earned his three medals.

His mother Mary, living at 15 Warwick Street, Birkenhead, received a pension of 12/6d a week, and his widow Ruth, living with her mother Sarah Ellen Jenkinson at 50 Priory Street, Birkenhead, received a pension of 10/- a week. Ruth also received his Soldiers Effects. 

Sadly, William has not been found on any local memorials.

We currently have no further information on William Henry Sharp, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.