Frederick James Sharp was born on the 29th March 1897 in Boxmoor to James Frederick and Ellen Hosier. The family was living at 43 Puller Road, Boxmoor at the time of his birth, and his father worked as a Sawyer at Foster’s Saw Mills nearby. Frederick, known as ‘Fred’, had an older sister Florence May (May), a younger brother Frank and two younger sisters Ellen Rose (Nellie) and Elsie Evelyn.

Fred’s younger brother Frank also joined the Colours and he was to die almost three years to the day after his brother at Passchendaele in 1918. Frank's biography is also on this site.

By 1911 the Sharp family had moved straight across the street to 30 Puller Road and fourteen-year old Fred was working in Dickinsons Paper Mill. His father was now a Jobbing Gardner and his older sister May was listed as ‘Father’s Housekeeper’ whilst his mother is not present, presumably she has passed away. By the time Fred went to the Front his family had moved again, this time to 59 St John’s Road in Boxmoor and would later leave the area entirely and move to Coulsdon near Croydon in Surrey.

We know from Boxmoor JMI School records that Fred had started work in John Dickinsons on 23rd March 1910 when he left school aged thirteen.

He enlisted at Hemel Hempstead in the first week of September 1914 and joined the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Between September 1914 and February 1915, he underwent basic training before leaving to join the Battalion in France. He disembarked on 24th March 1915 and soon joined his unit in the trenches near Ypres on the 28th March. He was one of the many fresh and inexperienced replacements joining the Battalion at the Front, as efforts continued to replenish depleted regiments following the huge casualties suffered at the First Battle of Ypres.

Within three weeks of his arrival, Fred found himself with his comrades in the trenches opposite Hill 60 and it was here that he met his death. From the 18th April onwards, there were persistent and heavy German counter-attacks to retake the Hill and it was during this time, on the 21st April, that Fred was killed.

The Battalion War Diaries record the horrific events on that day: “21 Apr 1915 - Reningelst Bombardment & counter attacks continued during early morning & position critical at times. Casualties very heavy. Enemy's machine guns partially enfiladed reverse of Hill 60, trench mortar bombarded it, & field guns were brought up to within about 30 yards & fired point blank at parapet, blowing it to pieces & mangling the defenders. Our artillery unable to compete with enemy's heavy guns, or to locate small guns which were too close to Hill 60 to be easily shelled. Casualties of Bedfords 4 officers killed, 8 wounded. Other ranks over four hundred. Cameron Highlanders & 1 Devons arrived during morning & relieved E.Surreys & Bedfords who went into reserve at RENINGHELST for sleep & rest. [Comment. Almost 100 Other Ranks were also killed between the 18th and 21st with several hundred more wounded.].”

Fred was killed only 29 days after coming up the line.

There had initially been some confusion over his fate and it appears he was reported killed, before his parents were officially notified in August 1915 that he was listed “Wounded and Missing since April 20th.” All hope was dashed however, when official confirmation of his death was received by his parents on the 21st December 1915, eight months to the day after he was killed.

Fred had been a member of the Hemel Hempstead and Boxmoor Church Lads Brigade. The Brigade was founded in 1891 and carried out work towards the personal and social development of young people. By 1911 it was officially recognised as a Cadet force and indeed many young men who died in the Great War, had been members of their local brigade. The brigade's patron saint is Martin of Tours. A banner depicting St Martin, which was presented by the brigade in 1921 to honour those members who died in the First World War, is kept at Westminster Abbey.

Fred is commemorated with his younger brother Frank on the John Dickinson War Memorial in Apsley.

He is Remembered with Honour at Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, Heuvelland West-Vlaanderen, Belgium where he was interred in Plot: VI. G. 23.

Fred was only 18 years old when he was killed.

He was eligible for the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.