Our Family History
The Sharman Children
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Olive Ada Emmeline Sharman Pawsey
(1891 - 1971)
Olive Ada Emmeline Sharman was born on 25th June 1888 in Stoke Newington. She was the eldsest child of Coachman Thomas Sharman and his wife Emelia.
In 1891 she was is living at 11 Lordship Road, Stoke Newington, with her parents and younger brother Thomas Sharman. By 1901, Olive had four younger brothers and the family had moved to 23 Sanford Terrace, Hackney.
Her father Thomas died in 1906 when she was 18, so Olive had to help her mother & Grandmother, Sarah Ann Thomas, look after the younger children and assist with the laundry that the women took in to help earn them money.
In 1911 the family were living at 7 Albert Road, Edmonton. Olive (22) was employed as a Dyers Ironer, her brother John ( 16) was employed as a Dyers errand boy, and her brothers Frank (18) and Sidney (15) were both employed as a Milk Boys.
On 21 September 1912 Olive married Charles Frederick Pawsey at St Annes Church Tottenham. Charles was working as a Delivery Porter at the time of the marriage but he later worked for Wickham's Upholstery firm in City Road London EC1.
In 1913 their daughter Olive was born, followed by Charles in 1914.
Charles was called up to fight during World War 1. He was stationed in Ireland before going to France. He was badly injured in a gas attack and was sent home after having a steel plate inserted in his skull.
Their Daughter, Elsie was born in 1916 and 1n 1918 Olive and her family were living at 46 Plym Cottage, Poplar.
In 1919 the Pawsey family moved to 46 Libra Road, Poplar. Olive's mother Emelia Sharman, and Olive's younger sisters and brothers lived with them. Olive's sister Ethel recalled:
Our house 46 Libra Road had steps up to the front door. We had a small area outside at the front of the house, which was called an "Airey". It was outside the basement and had railings around it. Our living room -which was also the younger childrens bedroom - was in the basement and we would often try to climb out of the window to see what was going on in the street outside! My Sister Olive & Her family lived with us too. Tt was always very crowded. We were a very large family. There was always wet washing hanging up everywhere in the house. and there were a lot of hungry mouths to feed!
One time, food kept going missing from the larder and was later found stashed and rotting under the floorboards. We children got accused of stealing it at first, but were let off by mother when it was discovered to be rats whho were pilfering the larder. The whole garden had to be dug up and the ground floor had to be repaired to stop them getting underneath!"
In 1919 Olive gave birth to a son called Reginald. In 1922 baby Masie came along, followed by Iris in 1927.
The family continued to live in Libra Road until 1935, when they moved to 222 Lordship Lane, Tottenham.
In 1966, Charles went to stay with his daughter Masie in Hertfordshire and died in the June. He was cremated in Harlow, Essex & his ashes were scattered in the woods. Olive continued to live in Tottenham until her death in 1971 aged 82.
Thomas Herbert Sharman (1890-1917)
Thomas was born in January 1890 in Stoke Newington and was baptised at St Mary's church on 23rd March.
In 1891 the family were living at 11 Lordship Road, Stoke Newington, and his father was working as Coachman and Groom. In 1901 they moved to 23 Sanford Terrace Hackney, London and in 1906 his father died.
By the age of 21, Thomas had joined the army. In 1911 Thomas was stationed at Royal Field Artillery Hilsea Barracks, Portsmouth. He was a Driver in a Special Reservist Unit: 1 Section 3rd Division R F R A.
On October 18th 1917 Gunner 11247 Thomas Herbert Sharman of The Royal Horse Artillery & Royal Field Artillery, died of wounds recieved in France & Flanders. He was aged 27.
Royal Horse & Field Artillery 1914 - 1918
The Royal Horse Artillery can be traced back to the 16th century. On 1 July 1899, the Royal Artillery was divided into two groups: the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery comprised one group, The Royal Garrison Artillery, being the other. In effect the three operated as separate corps until they were amalganated in 1924. The Royal Horse Artillery, has always had separate traditions, uniforms and insignia, still retains a separate identity to this day, and is considered by many to be an élite.
The Royal Horse Artillery
The RHA was responsible for light, mobile guns that provided firepower in support of the cavalry. It was the senior arm of the artillery, but the one that developed and grew least. In 1914 the establishment was one battery to each Brigade of Cavalry. A battery had six 13-pounder field guns and included 5 officers and 200 men. Motive power was supplied by the battery's 228 horses. The original BEF included only one Division of Cavalry of 4 Brigades, and thus it had four batteries RHA, which were organised into two Brigades.
RHA units of the regular army
As with all elements of the regular army, these units were after being mobilised in August 1914 manned by a mixture of serving regulars, army and Special reservists. From around October 1914 they began to be supplemented by wartime recruits and by the war's end the majority of the complement of most regular units were not career soldiers. The regular Brigades were generally under command of the Cavalry or Indian Cavalry Divisions, but a shortage of field artillery by late 1914 meant that some were at first joined to the newly-formed 7th, 8th and 29th Infantry Divisions.
