Career
Sharpe was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the 3rd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, on 17 April 1915. He later trained as a pilot, being granted Royal Aeronautical Club Aviator"s Certificate Number. 2471 on 19 February 1916.
He was confirmed in his rank on 22 March, and was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps and appointed a flying officer on 21 April.
Sharpe flew with Number. 24 Squadron from May to July 1916. On 1 February 1917 he was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain.
He was later posted to Number. 73 Squadron as a flight commander, to fly the Sopwith Camel single-seat fighter.
On 11 March 1918 he destroyed a Fokker Doctor.I triplane, then an Albatros Doctorate.V and two LVG reconnaissance aircraft on 22 March, and a pair of Doctorate.Vs two days later.
Three days later, on 27 March, he was shot down and wounded. The identity of his conqueror is debatable. His citation read:
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Thomas Sydney Sharpe (Gloucestershire Regiment).
"A gallant officer who has always led his patrol with marked skill and judgment.
On one occasion he chased down an Albatross scout and caused it to crash. He afterwards attacked five enemy machines, destroying two.
On the following day, encountering four Albatross scouts, he engaged one, which crashed. Proceeding on his patrol, he met a formation of enemy scouts.
He chased one and destroyed lieutenant"
Sharpe was repatriated on 25 December 1918, and transferred to the Royal Air Force"s unemployed list on 5 March 1919.
He remained in the army until resigning his commission on 1 April 1920.
