Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Harwich Force’ D.S.O. group of four awarded to Engineer Lieutenant-Commander M. J. R. Sharp, Royal Naval Reserve, whose decoration was gazetted following his death on 9 August 1917, when H.M.S. Recruit was torpedoed and sunk by the UB-16 three miles north of the Noord Hinder Light Vessel

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Eng. Lt. M. J. R. Sharp, R.N.R.(sic)); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Eng. Lt. Cr. M. J. R. Sharp, R.N.), good very fine (4) £1700-1900

D.S.O. London Gazette 14 September 1917:

‘For their services in vessels of the Harwich Force during the war.’

Maurice James Rogers Sharp was born in Ford, Devonport in September 1881, the son of Engineer Rear-Admiral William Sharp. Following in his father’s footsteps, he attended the Engineering College, Keyham and was appointed a Probationary Assistant Engineer in the Royal Navy in June 1902.

Having then gained advancement to Lieutenant in April 1906, he was serving in the destroyer H.M.S. Llewellyn on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, and he remained similarly employed until removing to another destroyer, Recruit, in November 1916. It was for his services in the latter ship in the Harwich Force that he was awarded the D.S.O., the announcement for which appeared a month or so after his death.

Recruit was torpedoed and sunk by UB-16 on 9 August 1917, three miles north of the Noord Hinder Light Vessel with a loss of 54 officers and ratings.

Sharp, who has no known grave and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Memorial, left a widow, Daisy, of ‘The Gables’, Prinsted, Emsworth, Hampshire; sold with copied research.