Supreme Sacrifice

Wednesday 3rd May 1916: The supreme sacrifice was never more poignantly instanced than in the death of a Luton soldier, Private Frederick Thomas Sharp, aged 29, of 21 Essex Street and of the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, which occurred in their ordeal on 19th April. By his death a widow and six young children are left without their breadwinner.

Mrs Sharp last week received a letter from Sergeant Croxford saying it was his painful duty to tell the news of the death in action of Private Sharp. He expressed deep sympathy with the widow and spoke of the esteem in which the deceased had been held by his comrades. He added that they would all miss him.

Since then Private A Burgess, whose home is in Albert Road has written to friends saying that he was with the deceased when he died and that they had buried him as decently as possible in the circumstances(1).

Private Sharp joined the colours a year last October from Luton. He formerly worked at the Diamond Foundry. He was well known in athletic circles and was a harrier. Afterwards he trained his brother, Horace, also a well-known runner, now serving with the Engineers in France. Another brother is with the forces in Egypt.

Source: Luton News 19th May 1916

(1) He now lies in Essex Farm Cemetery near Ypres.