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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 172

'Major A. G. G. Sharp, 6th Battalion, King's African Rifles. Somaliland Campaign, 22 April 1903:

'A gunshot wound. A penetrating flesh wound of the left thigh. The bullet entered at a point just internal to the femur at about the centre of the limb and made its exit at a corresponding point on the posterior aspect. From the direction of the wound it would appear that the great vessels and nerves have escaped injury but it is possible that the bullet in its course may have grazed the bone. At present there is still limitation of the movement of the left knee joint, with wasting of muscles of the thigh …'

The proceedings of a Military Medical Board held in London in July 1903, refer.

A notable British Central and East Africa Protectorate campaign group of three awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. G. Sharp, Royal Munster Fusiliers, late Leinster Regiment and Indian Army

In the period 1897-1903, he witnessed considerable action whilst seconded to the Central African Rifles and the King's African Rifles, including a stint of attachment to the Somali Levy, and was thrice mentioned in despatches

He also collected a nasty bullet wound to his left leg at Daratoleh on 22 April 1903, the same action in which no less than three V.C.s were won

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1894-95 (Lieut. A. G. G. Sharp. 20th Bl. Infy.); Central Africa 1891-98, 1 clasp, Central Africa 1894-98 (Lieut: A. G. Sharp. Lein. Regt.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Somaliland 1901, Somaliland 1902-04 (Capt. A. G. Sharp. Somali Levy), the first with refixed suspension claw and officially corrected, the last with repaired clasp side-carriage and crude accompanying rivets, contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine and rare (3)

Ex-Magor Collection, 2003.

Albert Gerard Gavin Sharp was born in India in September 1869 and was commissioned into the Leinster Regiment from the Militia in June 1890.

Baptism of fire - Waziristan

Advanced to Lieutenant in November 1892, he transferred to the 20th Regiment of Bengal Infantry in September 1893 and was appointed a Probationer for the Indian Staff Corps a year later. He subsequently served as a Transport (afterwards Brigade Transport) Officer on the Waziristan Expedition of 1894-95, when he was present at the action at Wana (Medal & clasp).

First 'Mention': Central Africa - Mpezini Expedition

In December 1895, Sharp resigned his probationary appointment in the Indian Army and 'was posted to the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, pending orders from Horse Guards as to his disposal.' In fact, shortly afterwards, he gained employment as an Officer in the British Central Africa Protectorate.

It was in this capacity that he commanded a company of around 80 soldiers of the Central African Rifles in the Mpezini Expedition of 1898 (Medal and clasp), services that won him a mention in despatches from Commissioner W. H. Manning, who cited his leadership and gallantry against an enemy 'whose courage and numbers were not to be lightly estimated.'

Further details of his gallant deeds appeared in a report submitted by Captain H. E. Brake, R.A.:

'The advanced guard extended, and I requested Lieutenant Sharp to detach a section to the left, to move round the base of the hill, and take the Angoni in the flank. As the enemy closed down, the left wing of the advanced guard fronted left, and, when the enemy were within thirty yards, poured in a steady volley which checked them, and, on the appearance of the flanking party in the rear, they drew off slowly, with a loss of some half-a-dozen men.'

Second 'Mention': East Africa - Somaliland operations 1901

In May 1899, Sharp transferred to the British East Africa Protectorate with an appointment in the King's African Rifles, but initially on attachment to the East African Regiment. It was in the latter capacity that he argued for the recruitment of the famous Masai into the unit's ranks and indeed that he won a second 'Mention' for the 1901 operations Levy (London Gazette 18 April 1902 refers). In his related despatch, Lieutenant-Colonel E. J. E. Swayne, C.O. of the Somali Levy, stated:

'I desire especially to bring to your notice Captain A. G. G. Sharp, East African Regiment, who joined the expedition in time to take part in the march to, and action at, Fardiddin. On the death of Captain Friederichs, Royal Engineers, Captain Sharp was appointed Adjutant. I consider him a thoroughly capable Officer, methodical, and understanding of how to deal with natives. From the commencement he earned their liking and respect. He has already served the Foreign Office for four years in Nyasaland, East Africa and Uganda, and has been mentioned in despatches.'

Third 'Mention': Somaliland operations 1902-03

Quickly re-employed in the Somaliland operations of 1902-03, Sharp again came to the favourable notice of his seniors, gaining a mention in despatches from Brigadier-General W. H. Manning, C.B. (London Gazette 2 September 1904 refers):

'Captain (local Major) A. G. Sharp, Leinster Regiment, Commanding 6th Battalion, The King's African Rifles, is deserving of credit for having raised the Somali Mounted Infantry, which did excellent service throughout the late operations. He also did good work while commanding a mounted column from Damot in March 1903, which included considerable loss to the enemy.'

Indeed Sharp's force advanced 35 miles from Burao in 18 hours and 100 of his men pressed on yet further, catching up with the enemy's rear guard, killing 13 of them and rounding up in excess of 10,000 sheep.

What Manning's despatch failed to mention is the fact that Sharp was wounded in the action at Daratoleh on 22 April 1903. His column commander, Major J. E. Gough, The Rifle Brigade, and two other officers, Captains W. G. Walker and G. M. Rolland of the Indian Army, won V.C.s for their bravery on the same occasion. Rolland later summarised the action thus:

'It was a grand fight, and for four hours our little band of 200 stood shoulder to shoulder in a tiny little square, barely thirty yards on each side, with a hail of bullets falling all round us. Our ammunition was running short, so at 2.30 p.m. (the action began at 10.30 a.m.) Major Gough decided to retire. A horde of savages followed us for three more hours, coming to within fifteen to thirty yards of us. It was a tight corner ... Well, we were not left alone till 5.30 p.m., and then the enemy drew off. It was the hardest day of my life. I fired and fired in that fight, till my rifle was burning hot; even the woodwork was boiling hot. Up to 3 a.m. a few biscuits and cocoa, then a twenty-five-mile ride, a seven hours' fight, and twenty-five miles back to camp - i.e. fifty miles that day; twenty-five hours without food of any kind ...'

Owing to his nasty leg wound, Sharp underwent a long period of medical assessments and was placed on half-pay.

Back to the fray: France and Flanders

Returning to full-pay in 1905, he gained advancement to Major in the Leinsters in May 1907. And the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 witnessed his appointment to Temporary Colonel in command of the 7th Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers.

After relinquishing this appointment in Spring of the following year, Sharp served out in France attached to the 1st Battalion between May and July 1915, and again between October 1916 and October 1917, when he appears to have been attached to the 11th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment.

He was finally placed on the Reserve of Officers as a Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1919; sold with a file of comprehensive research, including medal and clasp verification.



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Sold for
£5,000

Starting price
£1600