Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

29/10/1943

Date of Discharge

02/05/1946

Place of Enlistment

Soputa, Papua

Gender

Male

Other Name(s)

Also referred to as 'George'

Date of Birth

16/05/1920

Place of Birth

Queanbeyan NSW

Address (at enlistment)

Hooker Street, Westridge (Yarralumla) ACT

School(s) Attended

Telopea Park School

Occupation

Public servant

Next of Kin

Thomas Sharp (father), Hooker Street, Westridge (Yarralumla) ACT

Service Number

NX164879

Final Rank

Sergeant

Final Unit

3 Battalion

Sharp's mother was a member of the pioneering Southwell family and his father was a nurseryman at Yarralumla when he was born in 1920. The family was still living there when he was mobilised with the 3rd Battalion (militia) in Canberra on 23 April 1940. He commenced full time duty on 1 October 1941, arrived in Port Moresby, Papua in early June 1942 and entered the Kokoda track with 3 Battalion on 5 September 1942. The 3rd Battalion fought the Japanese at Ioribaiwa and Imita Ridge shortly after which Sharp was evacuated with malaria. He was released back to his unit at the end of October 1942. During November and early December, 3 Battalion was part of the offensive against the strongly held Japanese position at Gona. Sharp suffered several bouts of malaria in the next few months including after his return to Australia in early 1943. When 3 Battalion was disbanded, Sharp was transferred to the 36th Battalion. After returning to Papua in July 1943, he was seconded to the 6th Docks Operating Company to work as a wharf labourer at Port Moresby. Perhaps that inspired him to enlist in the AIF, which he did in Papua in October 1943, and was promoted to Lance Sergeant in January 1944 and then Sergeant in May 1944. From November 1944 to June 1945, Sharp served with 36 Battalion in New Britain where his unit undertook active patrolling to contain the Japanese near Rabaul. Sharp returned to Canberra, married and later lived in Braddon. He died on 28 November 1985 and is buried in Gungahlin Cemetery.

Description - height 6 feet 1 inch, blue eyes, fair complexion, fair hair, appendix scar.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Canberra Public Cemeteries http://www.canberracemeteries.com.au/cem_gravesearch.asp
NAA RecordSearch - Series B883
The Canberra Times - 29 November 1985, 30 November 1985