Police Awards From the Collection of John Tamplin

An M.B.E. group of four awarded to Captain F. B. Sharp, Chief of Police in St Lucia and later Superintendent of Police in Nigeria

The Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) 1st type; British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) the Victory Medal named to a Private in the British West India Regiment; Colonial Police Medal, for Meritorious Service, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Supt. Capt. Frederick B. Sharp, Nigeria Police Force) good very fine (4) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Police Awards From the Collection of John Tamplin.

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M.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 3 June 1927: ‘For service in combating the recent fire at Castries, St Lucia.’

C.P.M. for Meritorious Service London Gazette 13 June 1946.

Frederick Brooke Sharpe was born in 1891, and educated privately and at Elizabeth College in Guernsey. He was on war service during the Great War and became a Captain but his regiment or unit is unknown. After the war he was appointed an Extra A.D.C. to the Governor of St Lucia on 23 April 1925; acted as Private Secretary to the Governor from December 1925, and as Inspector of Police, Keeper of the Royal Gaol, and Drill, Musketry, Machine Gun and Physical Training Instructor to the Police and Local Forces from July 1926. He acted as Chief of Police from 22 December 1926, consequent on the illness of Mr E. E. Turner.

On the night of 14-15 May 1927, a serious fire broke out at Castries. Here, the capital of St Lucia, 17 blocks were destroyed, and practically all the business section of the town was burnt out. In addition, the Post Office, Government Spirit Warehouse, the Magistrate’s Court House, the Attorney General’s Office, a Friendly Society’s Hall, and numerous residential houses were destroyed. In spite of the efforts made to stop it, the fire was only halted by the sea. Sharp took, it seems, a prominent part in fighting this very serious fire and was rewarded with an M.B.E. for his services. The insignia was presented to him by the Governor at the Police Barracks in Castries on 11 February 1928.

At the end of June 1927, Captain Sharp left St Lucia to act as Chief of Police in Grenada, but resumed his duties in St Lucia on 11 August 1927, as Inspector of Police and Acting Harbour Master. The following month he was appointed Chief of Police and Inspector of Prisons.

In October 1928 Sharp proceeded to Northern Nigeria where he was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Northern Province of that country. He was finally appointed Superintendent, Northern Nigeria Police, in 1944, and retired in 1949. Sold with full research.