Biography of Pilot Officer Edward Sharman (108145)
12 Squadon Royal Air Force Voluneer Reserve
Died 11th February 1942

Airman

  • Name: Edward Sharman
  • Date of birth: 14th October 1921
  • Place of Birth: Sculcoates, Yorkshire, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: October – December 1921
  • Place of Birth Registration: Sculcoates, Yorkshire, England

Father

  • Name: Richard Sharman
  • DOB: 6th December 1896
  • Place of Birth: Counthorpe, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Nurseryman and tractor ploughing contractor

Mother

  • Name: Hannah Mary Pitts
  • DOB: 18th October 1896
  • Place Of Birth: Goole, Yorkshire, England
  • Marriage: 1921 Sculcoates District

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)

  • Edward Sharman, 1921, Sculcoates
  • Robert Sharman, 1922, Bourne
  • Mary Sharman, 1925, Bourne
  • Betty Sharman, Still living

Census

  • 1939 Register: Edward is living with his parents at Haakon Nurseries, Haconby, Lincolnshire

Relatives in services

  • Edward’s brother Robert fought with the Navy in WW2 but came home. Also his Uncle John Sharman fought and died in WW1.

Marriage

  • No marriage for Edward has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

  • Lincolnshire Echo Wednesday 18th February 1942
    Pilot Missing. Pilot Officer Edward Sharman (20), eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Sharman, of Hacconby, near Bourne, is reported missing since February 11.

 

  • Grantham Journal Friday 20th February 1942
    HACONBY
    R.A.F. Officer Missing. – Pilot Officer Edward Sharman, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Sharman, of Hacony, has been officially reported missing as from Feb. 11th.  Twenty years of age, Pilot officer Sharman has been in the R.A.F. for two years.  He was educated at Bourne Council school, where he won a scholarship tenable at Bourne Grammar School and remained there until he joined the R.A.F.  He was one of ten who were first selected to go for training in America.

Military Records

Memorials

  • UK:
  • Haconby, Roll of Honour in St Andrew’s Church
  • Wickenby Register Roll of Honour
  • Great Gonnerby St Sebastian war memorial
  • Great Gonnerby Memorial Hal

 

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
  • In memory of Pilot Officer Edward Sharman, 108145, 12th Squadon., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 11 February 1942 Age 20
  • Son Richard and Mary Sharman, of Haconby, Lincolnshire.
  • Remembered with honour, Runnymede Memorial

© Annie Ewer

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

  • Pilot Officer Edward Sharman, a navigator on a Vickers Wellington MK2, W5355, that was lost without trace with all crew on a night raid to Le Havre on 11th February 1942.
    The aircraft of 12 Squadron took off from RAF Binbrook on the night of Wednesday 11th February, for a mission that was planned for the 12th. The crew of W5355, code PH, on that night were:-Pilot Officer Norman Nelson Powell, aged 24, J/5226. RCAF, Pilot.
    Pilot Officer Edward Sharman, aged 20, 108145. RAF Volunteer Reserve, Navigator
    Sergeant John Walter Ashton, 1379656. RAF Volunteer Reserve, Pilot.
    Sergeant George Henry Bonner, age 32, 959560. RAF Volunteer Reserve, Air Gunner.
    Sergeant David Thomas Smith, age 22, 944264. RAF Volunteer Reserve, Wireless Operator.
    Sergeant Robert Charles Wentworth-Hyde, 930250. RAF Volunteer Reserve, Air Gunner.

 

  • This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

  • Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • British Newspaper Archive.