Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. G. Sharp, Royal Munster Fusiliers, late Leinster Regiment and Indian Army, and onetime attached East African Regiment and King’s African Rifles

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1894-95 (Lieut., 20th Bl. Infy.); Central Africa 1891-98, 1 clasp, Central Africa 1894-98 (Lieut., Lein. Regt.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Somaliland 1901, Somaliland 1902-04 (Capt., Somali Levy) the first with refixed suspension claw and officially corrected, the last with repaired clasp side-carriage and crude accompanying rivets, note differing initials of ‘A. G.’ or ‘A. G. G.’, contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine and rare (3) £1600-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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Albert Gerard Gavin Sharp was born in September 1869 and was commissioned into the Leinster Regiment from the Militia in June 1890. Advanced to Lieutenant in November 1892, he transferred on attachment to the 20th Regiment of Bengal Infantry in September 1893, and was appointed a Probationer for the Indian Staff Corps one 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.

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, and, in 1898, served on the Mpezini Expedition, winning a mention in despatches and the appropriate Medal and clasp.

In May 1899, Sharp was transferred to the British East Africa Protecorate, and saw regular action in Somaliland between 1901-04. He was mentioned in despatches for the 1901 operations by Lieutenant-Colonel E. J. E. Swayne, C.O. of the Somali Levy (London Gazette 18 April 1902 refers):

‘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.’

Quickly re-employed in the Somaliland operations of 1902-04, 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.’

What Manning’s despatch fails to mention is the fact that Sharp was slightly wounded in the action at Daratoleh on 22 April 1903. His column commander, Major J. E. Gough, The Rifle Brigade, and two other Officers, Captain Walker and Captain Rolland, were all awarded V.Cs for their bravery that day. 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 ...’

Sharp ended his African sojourn in December 1904, when he was placed on half-pay. But returning to full-pay in the following year, 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 bertween May and July 1915, and again between October 1916 and October 1917.

He was finally placed on the Reserve of Officers as a Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1919.