Philip Archibald Sharp was born in Litherland, Liverpool, Lancashire in late 1899, the son of Thomas A and Mary Ann Sharp. His father, who died in early 1915, had been employed by the Cunard Steam Ship Company. The family home was at 5 Glendower Road, Waterloo, Liverpool.
Philip engaged as a stewards' boy in the Stewards' Department on board the
Lusitania at Liverpool on 13 April 1915 and reported for duty on the morning of 17 April before the liner left the River Mersey for the last time.
He was killed three weeks later when the vessel was sunk. As his body was not recovered and identified afterwards, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
At only 15 years of age when he died, he was one of the youngest crew victims of the disaster.
In August 1915 his mother Mary Ann received the balance of wages owing to her son in respect of his service on the
Lusitania from 17 April to 8 May; 24 hours after the ship had foundered. In addition the Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited granted her an annual pension which amounted to £8-8s-6d (£8.42½) payable at the rate of £0-14s-1d (£0.70½) per month, which would indicate that she was in some way dependant on her young son.
References
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1901 Census of England and Wales, 1911 Census of England and Wales, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Cunard Records, Liverpool Echo, UniLiv. PR 13/24, PRO BT 334.