13350 Private James Sharp
8th(Service)Battalion
South Staffordshire Regiment
10th December 1915
Born in 1878 in North Shields, Northumberland. His parents were Thomas Sharp(born in 1855) and Mary Russell
(born in 1858). They were married in 1876.
After James was born, in the next year and and a half, Thomas and Mary emigrated to New Zealand, but for some reason they did not take James with them and I have unable to follow his upbringing from that point until he enlists into the army.
Thomas, working as a miner and Mary went on to settle in Kaitangata, Otago, New Zealand, from where the family grew
and they went on to have 4 more sons, John Russell (born in 1880-11/06/1944), Robert (born in 1884-29/07/1955),
Thomas Russell (born in 1887-25/01/1969) and William Russell (born in 1888).
They also had 4 daughters, Ann Boyd (29/05/1882-06/02/1946), Janet Gillespie (born in 1890-07/11/1939),
Mary (born in 1891) and Ellen Sheahan (born in 1894).
James enlisted in Hednesford, Staffordshire and was sent to France on 14/07/1915.
He was killed in action on 10/12/1915.
Otago Daily Times, 28 January 1916
Deaths
Sharp – “Cable via Pacific.- 13350 Private James Sharp, South Stafford Regiment, killed in action, December 10. –
War Office.” Elder son of Thomas and Mary Sharp, Kaitangata.
He fighting fell.
Otago Witness, 13 December 1916
For the Empire’s Cause
In Memoriam
Sharp.- On December 10, 1915, at Ypres, Private James Sharp (Eighth Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment), eldest son of Thomas and Mary Sharp, Kaitangata.
In the stress of battle, he fighting fell.
James was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.