James Wilmont Sharpe signature

James Wilmot Sharpe signed up in Deseronto on this day in 1916. He was born on January 8th, 1883 in Deseronto, the son of Philip Sharpe and Sarah (née Smith). On October 19th, 1901, he married Mabel Hayes in Napanee. In 1904 the couple were living in Fourth Street, Deseronto when their son was born. By 1916, when Sharpe enlisted, their home address was 114 Peter Street, Toronto. Sharpe’s three younger brothers, Ernest, Alfred Nelson and Harry had already enlisted.

Sharpe joined the 74th Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery with the regimental number 344822. He was five feet four and a half inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. His service record shows that he was discharged on September 8th, 1916 as being medically unfit, due to having a deformed ankle from a fracture two years previously.

He was back at 114 Peter Street in Toronto with Mabel and their son in 1921. James died on February 23rd, 1970 at the age of 88. His obituary in the Quinte Scanner notes that Mabel predeceased him and that the couple had two sons, William and James. He worked as a millwright. James was buried in Deseronto Cemetery.