SHARPIN, Norman James

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Tugaske, Saskatchewan
Regimental Number
782269
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
25 years 1 month
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        2nd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             6th Infantry Brigade 
                                             28th Battalion  -  Saskatchewan
                                             “C” Company
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   782269
RESIDENCE:                     Tugaske - Saskatchewan    
DATE OF BIRTH:            March 25, 1892
                                             Gorrie - Howick Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           May 6, 1917                         25 years      1 month
MEMORIAL:                    Vimy Memorial – Vimy
                        Pas de Calais - Ontario
PARENTS:                         Mrs. Sarah Jane Sharpin – Owen Sound - Ontario
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         January 4, 1916 – Tugaske - Saskatchewan
Enlistment Age:                 23 years     11 months

He boarded the SS Grampian in Halifax and embarked from Canada and arrived in England on August 24, 1916. He then transferred to the 28th Battalion, goes overseas in France and joins his unit in the field on December 28, 1916.
Private Sharpin was in the trenches with his unit located north of Fresnoy when he lost his life in action.
The Battalion is located in the vicinity of Neuville St. Vaast as they prepare for the upcoming advance.
Brigade diaries: The advance against Neuville St. Vaast began on May 2nd and continued through May 8th. On May 5th, the Battalion was preparing to again advance against the enemy but this was postponed because the artillery had failed to clear the enemy wire for the infantry. During the night of May of May 5 & 6 the Arleux Loop was cleaned out and the jumping off trench was deepened and connected to the front line system. On May 6th the advance was again postponed because the enemy defences were still intact.
The whole time the 28th Battalion was at the front they had been subject to very heavy and intense enemy artillery fire. This resulted in the Battalion suffering casualies.
Each Company was to carry 50 shovels and 15 picks and each man was to carry rations for 24 hours, his iron rations plus two filled water bottles.
For this operation, the 6th Brigade was to attack, capture and consolidate the captured enemy front line trenches. “C” Company was in the vicinity of the sunken road. During the course of the advance is the leading Companies were forced back “C”was to immediately counter attack the enemy threat.
From our research we must conclude that Private Sharpin lost his life during the enemy artillery barrages onto the positions of the Battalion. In addition, he is remembered and honoured on the Vimy Memorial which indicates that this soldier was never found.