2nd Lieutenant Thomas Sydney Sharpe was born about 1887 in Gloucester. He received his Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate in 1916.

 

Sharpe joined the Gloucestershire Regiment, No 24 Sqn RFC and in 1918 he was appointed Flight Commander of No 73 Sqn. He is credited with 6 arial victories.

 

On the 27th March 1918 he was wounded and captured when his Sopwith Camel was shot down by Manfred von Richthofen. While in captivity he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, becoming one of the first British pilots to receive this medal. Although he reported he had been shot down by ground fire, Sharpe was the Red Baron’s 71st victim.