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n joined the 7th Battalion, a new army battalion, known as
“Mobbs Own”, after a famous Northampton rugby player who
recruited for the Battalion and eventually became commanding
officer. The Battalion arrived Boulogne on 7th September 1915.
On 31st July 1917 the British began an attack, which started
the third battle of Ypres. The 7th Battalion were attacking near
Shrewsbury Forest. There had been 10 days of preparations
prior to the bombardment, but the Germans had prepared their
defences in depth and held off the main British attack.
Both Edgar Mobbs and John Sharpe died in this engagement.
The next day the heavens opened and turned the whole area
into a quagmire, which brought the battle to a stop.
The Stamford & Rutland News of 12th September 1917 reports:-
“Kings Cliffe. Two Brothers Make the Great Sacrifice – We hear with
deep regret that Private J Sharpe, Northants Regiment, has been killed
in France. His parents received the sad news on Sunday morning.
He was shot in the head, and died before getting back to the lines.
This is the second son Mr and Mrs Sharpe have lost. The parents
have received the following letter from a sergeant of the regiment:-
‘I have made enquiries of one of your son’s comrades, who was with
him on 31st July. The company was going forward in the front line,
and your son was hit in the head by a bullet. It was a very bad wound.
One of his comrades bound his head up and kept by his side a short
time to see if there was anything more could be done for him. Then
an order came along to push on, and your son was left. He said he
did not think your son would get over it: he seemed as if he was dying
when he left him. Another chap saw your son walking towards him; he
saw him fall, and he was not seen to rise again. I don’t think he could
have moved any more. You can take my word for it that your son died
from head wounds. Accept the deepest sympathy of myself and all his
comrades, who greatly mourn his loss. Your son was always willing to
do his share of duty like a soldier and a comrade.’
The sympathy of the whole of the inhabitants goes out to them in their
second bereavement.”
John is buried at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Ypres. Grave 20H.14.
196
“Mobbs Own”, after a famous Northampton rugby player who
recruited for the Battalion and eventually became commanding
officer. The Battalion arrived Boulogne on 7th September 1915.
On 31st July 1917 the British began an attack, which started
the third battle of Ypres. The 7th Battalion were attacking near
Shrewsbury Forest. There had been 10 days of preparations
prior to the bombardment, but the Germans had prepared their
defences in depth and held off the main British attack.
Both Edgar Mobbs and John Sharpe died in this engagement.
The next day the heavens opened and turned the whole area
into a quagmire, which brought the battle to a stop.
The Stamford & Rutland News of 12th September 1917 reports:-
“Kings Cliffe. Two Brothers Make the Great Sacrifice – We hear with
deep regret that Private J Sharpe, Northants Regiment, has been killed
in France. His parents received the sad news on Sunday morning.
He was shot in the head, and died before getting back to the lines.
This is the second son Mr and Mrs Sharpe have lost. The parents
have received the following letter from a sergeant of the regiment:-
‘I have made enquiries of one of your son’s comrades, who was with
him on 31st July. The company was going forward in the front line,
and your son was hit in the head by a bullet. It was a very bad wound.
One of his comrades bound his head up and kept by his side a short
time to see if there was anything more could be done for him. Then
an order came along to push on, and your son was left. He said he
did not think your son would get over it: he seemed as if he was dying
when he left him. Another chap saw your son walking towards him; he
saw him fall, and he was not seen to rise again. I don’t think he could
have moved any more. You can take my word for it that your son died
from head wounds. Accept the deepest sympathy of myself and all his
comrades, who greatly mourn his loss. Your son was always willing to
do his share of duty like a soldier and a comrade.’
The sympathy of the whole of the inhabitants goes out to them in their
second bereavement.”
John is buried at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Ypres. Grave 20H.14.
196
