Before he enlisted, Richard worked at the United Alkali Works, Burn Naze, prior to which he worked on the Belfast mail steamers for three years. He enlisted on the 5th September 1915 and had been in France upwards of 12 months before he died. He went out to France the same week that his brother, (104831) Pte. Thomas Sharples, also of the RAMC, was killed at Ypres. Richard had been dangerously wounded in the leg and shoulder. He was the son of Mrs M E Sharples of 45 Livingstone Terrace, Fleetwood, and the late William Sharples; and the husband of Mary J Sharples and father of two daughters, aged six and eight. [Information sources: CWGC, SDGW, Gazette News for Blackpool, Fleetwood, Lytham, St. Annes and Fylde (Photograph from the Gazette News]