Private Thomas Sharp, 1888-11/10/1915.

Thomas Sharp was a very new soldier when he died - he had volunteered but had not arrived at camp at Trentham for training - that is why his name has no service number beside it.  Nonetheless, his compact with his country to serve in uniform meant that he died as a soldier.

THE PUKERAU FATALITY.

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

An inquest was held at the Gore Courthouse yesterday afternoon relative to the death of Private Thomas Sharp, who was killed at Pukerau the previous day by falling under a train. 

Mr A. Martin, J.P. (acting-coroner) presided, and the following jury was empanelled: — Messrs R. Robson (foreman), J. D. Baldwin, Wm. McCutcheon and Jackson Munro. Sergeant O'Connell watched the case on behalf of the police and Mr W. F. Inder appeared for the Associated Society of Railway Servants, of which body deceased was a member.

Donald Wares (guard in charge of the Clinton-Invercargill goods train) in the course of his evidence said he was talking to Sharp on the Pukerau railway platform for the minute or so during which the express train was at the station. When the train started the two men shook hands, and witness stepped forward to take his key from the signal semaphore, in order to let his train out at the points. As he turned round he saw Sharp catch hold of the handrails of the van and, as it were, step on to the van platform. Sharp's feet seemed to slip under him and he fell between the steps of the van and the station platform. The front bogie of the van touched him and the back bogie and both bogies of the mailvan passed over him. He (Wares) jumped into the van and applied the emergency brake, pulling the train up within a few yards. Sharp was found to be dead. Sharp was perfectly sober and in his usual state of health. The express train had started and had gone about three car lengths when deceased jumped on, no difficulty should be experienced by any railwayman in jumping on to a train while it was going at the speed of five miles an hour. Witness assisted to wrap the body in a tarpaulin and brought it back to Gore and handed it over to the police. Witness thought the back wheels of the van passed over the head and neck of deceased and the wheels of the mailvan over the upper part of the body. 

James Natta (railway clerk at Pukerau) gave corroborative evidence. He stated that he was standing about six yards distant and Sharp catch the handrails and appear to put his feet on the van, but he slipped and swung slightly round, and fell between the van steps and the platform of the station. 

H. Bennetts (stationmaster at Gore) and Constables Murphy and Woods also gave evidence as to the sober and steady habits of deceased. Deceased was perfectly sober when he left Gore the previous afternoon, and they had never known him otherwise.

The jury returned the following verdict. "That Thomas Sharp was accidentally killed by falling underneath a moving train at Pukerau on October 11, no blame being attachable to anyone."

The jury expressed its sorrow and deep regret that a young man of the stamp of the deceased who had offered his his service to his King and country should meet with such an untimely death, and desired to express their sincere sympathy with the relatives and friends of the deceased in their sad bereavement.  -Mataura Ensign, 13/10/1915.

FUNERAL NOTICE

The friends of the late Private Thomas Sharp are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave the Gore Hospital TO-MORROW (Wednesday) at 3p.m. for the Gore Cemetery.

 W. P. CRAIG, Undertaker, Onslow Street. 'Phone 202.

LOYAL UNITED HOPE LODGE, M.U., I.O.O. F. 

Brethren are requested to meet at the Lodge Room TO-MORROW (Wednesday) Afternoon at 2.30 to attend the Funeral of the late Bro. T. Sharp. J. LATHAM, P.S.

D SQUADRON MMR., N.P. 

The Squadron will parade dismounted at Monro's Stables at 2.45 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, 13th, to attend the Funeral of late Private Thomas Sharp, N.Z. E. Forces. 

E. WINSLOE, Lieut, For O.C. Squadron. 

GORE INFANTRY NATIONAL RESERVE

Members (both active, and honorary) are requested to parade at the Defence Office at 2.30 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, 13th, to attend the .Military Funeral of Private Thomas Sharp. 

H. Muir, Hon. Captain.

MEMBERS of the Gore Municipal Brass Band are requested to meet with instruments at the Band Room TO-MORROW (Wednesday) at 1.45 p.m. for the purpose of attending the Funeral of the late Private T. Sharp. H. J. CLARK. Hon. Secretary.  -Mataura Ensign, 12/10/1915.

Thomas Sharp
A Soldier’s End: Sad accident near Gore. Farewell followed by fatality.

It is with very deep regret that we have to chronicle the death of one of our members, Mr Thos. Sharp, who was accidentally killed at Pukerau on October 11th, whilst on his way to Trentham prior to proceeding to the Front. He was given a send-off by his fellow-boarders at the Commercial Hotel, Gore, being presented with a wristlet watch by the railway employees, and again when he was entertained by the townspeople and presented with a shaving outfit. A large crowd gathered on the platform to bid him farewell, and many of them had not reached home when they received the sad news of his death. 

It is impossible to describe the gloom that was cast over the whole of Gore on receipt of the news. It appears that he alighted from the train at Pukerau (which is the first stop after leaving Gore) for the purpose of bidding farewell to some of his friends and fellow-employees, and as the train commenced to pull out he waited until the guard's van came up and jumped on, but missed his footing, with the result that the last bogie of the guard's van and those of the postal car went over him, killing him instantaneously. His body was brought back to Gore, where an inquest was held the following day, when the jury brought in a verdict of "Accidental Death," no blame being attachable to anyone. The jury also expressed their sorrow and deep regret that a young- man of the stamp of the deceased, who had offered his life service to his King and country, should meet with such an untimely end, and desired to express their sincere sympathy with the relatives and friends of the deceased in their sad bereavement.

Private Sharp was accorded a military funeral, which was one of the largest ever taken place at Gore, there being full 400 Territorials, Cadets, and members of both branches of the National Reserve on parade, while more than a thousand people assembled at the graveside. The coffin, which was draped in the Union Jack, was conveyed to the cemetery on a 15-pounder gun-carriage and limber, which was obtained from Invercargill, and was drawn by four horses kindly lent by O. M. S. Jackson Munro. Private Sharp's cap and side arms were placed on the coffin. The funeral, which left the Gore Hospital at 3 p.m., was headed by 12 Territorials (who comprised the firing party) with reversed arms, followed by the Gore Municipal Brass Band playing the "Dead March" from "Saul.” The gun-carriage, conveying the coffin, came next, followed by the chief mourners, including several members of the railway staff, after whom followed the members of the Oddfellows' Lodge, several returned troopers, Gore Territorials, Gore Cadets, and the Gore Pipe Band. Six fellow-employees of the deceased (Messrs Verev, Sleeman, White, Welsh, Strang and Murphy), dressed in railway uniform, with black sashes, acted as pallbearers. Captain Stevens, N.Z.S.C. (Balclutha), had charge of the funeral, and Lieutenant P. Boyne commanded the Territorials and Cadets, while Lieutenant J. E. Winsloe was in charge of the National Reserve. Lieutenant Craigie commanded No. 3 troop of the National Reserve. On arrival at the graveside, Captain Chaplain J. M. Simpson conducted the burial service, and Bro. J. Boyne, P.N.G., on behalf of the Oddfellows also read a short service. The firing party fired three volleys over the grave, and Buglers McCorkindale and D. Harland sounded the "Last Post." Deceased was a trustee of the local branch of the A.S.R.S. since its inception, and at a meeting of the Gore Branch, held on October 23rd, the following resolution was carried by all present standing in silence: That the members of the Gore Branch of the A.S.R.S. wish to express their deepest sympathy and condolence with the relatives and friends of the late Mr Thomas Sharp, who was accidentally killed at Pukerau on October 11th whilst on his way to fight for his king and country.

Deceased was a native of Denniston, where he was born on January 1888. When he was scarcely three years of age his parents moved to Branxholme, Tasmania, where the family has since resided. A little over four years ago deceased returned to New Zealand, joined the railway service, and was for the last three years stationed at Gore, where his quiet and unassuming manner gained for him the esteem of all he came in contact with. He was appointed Trustee to the Gore Branch A.S.R.S. when it was first opened, which position he held up to the time of his death. He was a member of a Tasmanian Order of Oddfellows, and also the Invercargill Railway Sick Benefit Society. He leave widowed mother, two sisters, and three brothers to mourn their loss.  -Railway review, 19/11/1915. (with thanks to the Auckland Museum's "Online Cenotaph.")

"In Loving Memory of Thomas sharp, NZR, who was accidentally killed at Pukerau 11 October 1915, aged 27 years."
"Father, in thy gracious keeping/ Leave we now our loved one sleeping."

Gore Cemetery.