I have just finished reading the entire Sharpe series which I enjoyed immensely. My wife, pausing from reading her Georgette Heyer book, commented that the character of Richard Sharpe was a bit fanciful. After grumbling around the house for a few days I remembered the AIF soldier Albert Jacka who in WW1, came close to Richard Sharpe (with less bodice ripping). (See http://www.awm.gov.au/people/226.asp. Thanks for the good read
Steve Drummond