Rushden Research Group:

Rushden Echo & Argus, 2nd May 1941, transcribed by Kay Collins

Major Miss Doris Sharp

Salvationist in German Hands
Rushden Lady Who Escorted Children to Australia
Drama of Voyage

Salvationist in the Rushden district will be pleased to hear that one of their former comrades, Major Miss Doris Sharp, of 6 Purvis-road, Rushden, and her friend, Major Florence Mackenzie, whose boat, on which they were returning from Australia, had been long overdue, are safe, but are prisoners of war in Germany.

They set out on August 1st as escorted for evacuated children on a boat whose name has been kept a secret, and arrived at their destination safely.

A message was received some fourteen weeks ago by Major Sharp’s mother, Mrs. J. H. Sharp, that the boat on which they were returning was long overdue, and that there were grave doubts as to the safety of the passengers and crew.

No further news was received until Friday, when a card arrived from Germany. It stated that they were all well, and had arrived in Germany on March 15th. Since their arrival, the message added, they had been shown great kindness, but they had lost everything.

Miss Sharp was born at Wellingborough, and was formerly a member of the Salvation Army Corps there. She entered a training college, and afterwards took charge of the Children’s Missionary Home in London and the Retired Officers’ Home at Ramsgate. Major Mackenzie was with her at both of these places.

Owing to the war she had to leave Ramsgate, and the two came to live in Rushden until they made their trip. Major Sharp’s father passed away about eight years ago, and she has seven brothers and two sisters. One of her brothers is in the Salvation Army at Stockport.