Sharp, Eric Charles
Killed in Italy, Sportsman’ s Death In Accident:
Mr and Mrs Charles Sharp, 91 Downs Road, Folkestone, have been informed that Major Eric Sharp their only surviving child has been killed on active service in Italy. His death was due to an accident. Major Sharp, who was 29, was a brilliant scholar and an all-round sportsman of unusual ability. He received his early education at Dover County School, which he left at the age of 18 in 1933 and then went to King’ s College, London. During his last year at Dover he was captain of the School and was a tower of strength with the cricket, rugby and association football teams. He was also an accomplished swimmer, and was champion swimmer of Dover as well as of the school. At King’ s College he was awarded his swimming blue. He was also gymnastic instructor.
When war broke out Major Sharp was a master at Gosport Central School. He immediately enlisted, and on October 14th, 1939, he received his commission. As a Second Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers he was at Dunkirk. After the evacuation he was transferred to the Reconnaissance Corps, with the rank of Captain, and was soon after promoted Major. He eventually travelled to North Africa, was in the bitter fighting at Cap Bon and was awarded the African Star.
Recently, in Cairo, he met three other old boys of Dover School and there was a happy reunion.
Major Sharp was married and has a five years old daughter. His bride was Miss Freda Slow, formerly a teacher at Mundella School; she now holds a similar position at Sutton Valence.Folkestone Herald, 29 April 1944
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Sharp |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Eric Charles |
| Date of birth | 24 August 1914 |
| Place of birth | Dover |
| Family details | Son of Charles and Nellie Sharp; husband of Dorothy Freda Sharp, of Etchinghill, Kent. |
| Previous education | Dover County School |
| College | King's College London and/or King's College London Hospital |
| Dates at college | 1933-1936 |
| Qualifications | B.Sc. Hons |
| Military unit | Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C., "A" Sqn. 4th Regt. |
| Date enlisted | Outbreak of War |
| Service number | 100895 |
| War / conflict | World War Two (1939-1945) |
| Decorations / medals | African Star |
| Date of death | 09/04/1944 |
| Age at death | 29 |
| Rank at death | Major |
| Cause of death | Grenade accident on active service |
| Burial place | Cassino War Cemetery |
| Commemoration(s) | King’ s College Chapel; Dover War Memorial; Roll of the Fallen, University of London O.T.C. & S.T.C. |
| Sources | King’ s College London Archives; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; |