Bob Sharplin Records

Bob Sharplin was born on the 4th of June, 1911. He was born in Gillingham, Kent. His family had a strong tie with the navy. Hence it was no surprise when he ended up in the navy. For instance, his elder brother, Percy Anthony, also spent 25 years in the Royal Navy. Even his father had earlier served in the Royal Navy during the First World War for more than five years.

Bob encountered his eventual wife Dorcas Hall around Weymouth. His ship had anchored there for some unknown business. It was at this time that Dorcas was strolling around the seafront with her sister. She was enjoying the view of the naval ships. Eventually, Bob and Dorcas got married in 1933.

They set up their home in Gillingham, although the lower part of Rainham. This ensured that Bob was close to the Royal Navy Barracks. It was here that they gave birth to their son Clive in 1936 and their daughter Wendy in 1943.

Personal Records 

According to his son, Clive Sharplin, Bob Sharplin was a Royal Navy Officer with number KX80024. His proud division was Chatham, and he served between the 8th of July 1929 and the 12th of February 1953.

Service Records

In every sense of the word, Bob Sharplin was an accomplished naval officer. He stated as a Stoker 2nd Class and eventually wore the Petty Officer a sleeve and Cap Badge sewing that he was a stoker petty officer. 

Noteworthy, in the British naval system, rating and speciality are usually not intertwined. As such, an officer might attain high status in his speciality and still fail to advance beyond a seaman’s rating. Similarly, a person might have attained the CPO position and isn’t highly qualified when it comes to his speciality. Under these circumstances, advancement in rating would have been based on education and leadership, among others.

As a serviceman, Bob Sharplin was a Mechanician. He started as a Mechanician (O.S.). Then, later, he attained the higher rank of Mechanician 2nd Class, then Mechanician 1st Class, and later Chief Mechanician. 

Also, he was a stoker. At his entry point into the service, he was a Stoker, Fore Fighter. Then, soon afterwards, he became Stoker, 2nd Class for propeller only. Soon afterwards, he became Stoker, 1st Class, then Leading Stoker at a later time. 

Eventually, he rose to be the Stoker Petty Officer and later the Chief Stoker. 

During his time, Bob Sharplin was also awarded the Good Conduct Pay and the Good Conduct Chevrons. In his final rank, Bob Sharplin wore the badge with the three Chevrons.

Bob also enjoyed other clasps and medals throughout his career. Some of the most notable ones include:

• The Atlantic Star
• The African Star with France & Germany Bar
• The 1939 – 1945 Star
• The 1939 – 1945 Medal
• Long Service & Good Conduct Medal