SHARMAN, William Albert


No.27087, Private, William Albert SHARMAN
Aged 27


7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Killed in Action on Tuesday, 31st July 1917


Albert William Sherman was born in Steeple Bumpstead (Risbridge Q2-1890 4A:639), son of Emma SHERMAN.
In civil records he can appear as Albert William, in military records he is William Albert. His family name varies from Sharman to Sherman and Shearman. He is SHERMAN on the memorial.

1891 census...Albert William SHEARMAN, aged 1, was at Endway, Steeple Bumpstead with his grandfather Charles SHEARMAN [44] a sawyer; his grandmother Sophia [45]; his mother ? Emma [21]; uncles Daniel [18] and Reuben [15] farm labourers and aunt Louie [8].All were born in Steeple Bumpstead.

Emma Sharman married John COOTE in 1899

1901 census...William SHERMAN, aged 11, was at Churchfield, Steeple Bumpstead with his grandparents (now SHERMAN), uncle Reuben and aunt Louie. His mother and stepfather John COOTE [41] farm labourer and their daughter Agnes were at Endway, Steeple Bumpstead with Albert's sister Alice SHERMAN [7] and brother Sydney SHERMAN[3]

1911 census...William SHERMAN, aged 21 a labourer, he was at Churchfield still, with his grandparents. His brother and sister are with their mother and stepfather at Endway and are using the surname COOTE.

In 1913 he married Edith Ada STOCK [14-9-1889]. Their son, Gordon William SHARMAN was born on 3-7-1915. The address was Bartlow Road, Castle Camps. She remarried in 1918 to Edward PETTIT


William enlisted in Colchester.
The 3rd Battle of Ypres which started on 31st July 1917 is now known generally as Passchendaele. This offensive cost the British 310,000 casualties. Imagine advancing to fight through a field of mud in full kit, then add in the fact that in the ten days leading up to the attack, 4.25 million shells were fired by our artillery alone. The 7th battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment were involved in the attack on Shrewsbury Forest on 31st, and lost 12 Officers and 246 other ranks.

CWGC records show 90 were killed, of which 76 have no known grave.



William found here, identified by two damaged discs, and re-interred in Tyne Cot in 1921




photo courtesy Ian Westrope




photo: Rodney Gibson



William Sharman is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, grave 60:J:3

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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