To mark the milestone, Gerringong Uniting Church is hosting a 100-year memorial service for Wallace John Sharpe, also affectionately known as Uncle Wally to some in the congregation, on Wednesday, March 28.

“Wally was a popular figure in Gerringong and his death greatly impacted the community,” Reverend Peter Chapman said.

Morning tea will be served from 10.30am followed by a memorial service at 11am in the stone church where he was farewelled 100-years ago, where they will re-enact the visual display at the front of the church.  

About Sergeant Wallace John Sharpe

Wallace John Sharpe was born in Gerringong on July 6, 1891 to parents James and Mary.

James served as an alderman on Gerringong Council from 1891 until his death in 1930, serving as mayor from 1909-11. He was also on the board of the Gerringong co-op and dairy farmers co-op. He was a member of the Pastures Protection Board, a life member of the Kiama Agricultural and Horticultural Society, as well as a well-known cattle judge at many coastal shows. 

Wally didn’t follow go into the family business of dairy farming. Rather he worked with his uncle, Will Nelson, in the Gerringong General Store. He would often ride his horse to the outlying parts of the district, and was apparently quite popular and likeable. He was said to be of fine moral character, was a member of Gerringong tennis club, and was said to have fine manly qualities.

Wally was a committed member of this church and clearly had a strong Christian faith. Documents from the day indicate Wally was Sunday School superintendent and participated in Christian Endeavour, a inter-denominational Christian youth movement. 

Wally enlisted on July 29, 1915 at age 24, joining the 6th Light Horse Regiment, 16th reinforcement. He was farewelled in the Gerringong Park by his fellow Sunday school teachers and scholars as well as his Christian Endeavour chums. He was presented with a pocket edition of ‘Daily Light’, a daily devotional.

He embarked from Sydney on May 3, 1916 on His Majesty’s Australian Transport (HMAT) Hymettus, leaving his home, ‘Aorangi’ in Gerringong forever.

The 6th Light Horse spent late 1916 and early 1917 engaged on patrol work until the British advance into Palestine stalled before the Turkish bastion of Gaza. It was involved in the two abortive battles to capture Gaza directly (March 27 and  April 19) and then the operation that ultimately led to its fall – the famous flanking mounted charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade that stormed through the Turkish defences and seized the strategic town of Beersheba.

The capture of Beersheba enabled British Empire forces to break the Ottoman line near Gaza on November 7 and advance into Palestine. With the fall of Gaza the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed. 

The 6th participated in the pursuit that followed and led to the capture of Jerusalem in December. The focus of British operations then moved to the Jordan Valley. In early 1918 the 6th was involved in the Amman raids.

The First Battle of Amman aimed at cutting the Hejaz railway line running south from Damascus. The operation began on March 22, 1918 with the building of bridges across the River Jordan. Rain made going extremely difficult, but by the evening of March 25, the village of Es Salt had been taken. 

On the morning of March 27, the attack began on Amman. About 3000 allied soldiers faced 4000 Turks in well prepared positions, supported by machine-guns and fifteen artillery pieces. The Turkish resistance, bolstered by the German Asia Corps, proved impossible to overcome. 

According to a Red Cross report, Sharpe was hit by machine gun fire, together with two or three others during an advance.

A witness was about 50 yards away, and saw all the men hit, lying on the ground. He recognised Sharpe who was still alive, saying: “I knew Sergeant Sharpe by sight. He was a tall man standing about six-foot, of big build, dark, clean shaved. He went out with Liet. Ridgway’s party, when they made an unsuccessful attack on Amman. We were in support; Ringrose was the only man of the party who returned. He reported that everyone of them had been hit. This was on March 28, 1918”.

By April 2, the Allies had withdrawn. The venture had cost 118 killed and 55 missing from the Mounted Division.

Another attack was made on Amman six months later and the place was taken.

Some of the men went out to see the place where Liet. Ridgeway’s party, of which Sharpe was a part, had been attacked. The dead bodies were lying there just as they had fallen, Sharpe was identified by some of the men. At this point the bodies were buried. 

Sharpe was described as one of the most popular men in the regiment and as a great leader of men.

Back on the home front, for nearly a year the family lived in anxiety and suspense, not knowing whether 27-year-old Wally was alive or dead – finally they received the bad news after previously being reported missing.

The memorial service for Sergeant Sharpe was conducted by the Rev. W.T. Hooker in what was then the Gerringong Congregational Church.

The rostrum was draped with the Union Jack and Australian flag. In the centre was placed a large wreath of white flowers with streamers of Sergt. Sharpe’s Battalion colours – red and green.

The service was uplifting, a note of triumph ran through it all, in prayers, readings, anthems, hymns and address from Romans 14:7-8.