With regards to Mssrs Weir, Kempner and Lewis’ comments about how/when Sharpe became a 1st Lieutenant, The Sharpe Companion by M.Adkin states that Major Travers secured Sharpe’s gazette promotion on 22nd August 1808 into Lt. Ralph Bunburys’ vacancy after that officer was shot at Obidos, presumably as Sharpe was senior 2nd Lt.

Further, although this probably was influenced by Lord Pumphrey, on pg. 19 of ‘Rifles’ Dunnett states that the Colonel (H.Wade?) only took Sharpe as ‘a favour to Willie Lawford’. This is interesting, as it begs the question what favour did Wade owe to Lawford (because as Mr. Cornwell states in ‘Fury’, favours are given so that others can be returned), and did Lawford know Pumphrey ?

Also in ‘Rifles’, it mentions Sharpe transferring to the 2nd Batt. ‘six months ago’, i.e July 1808, therefore prior to Rolica. In ‘Prey’ Sharpe is in the 1st Batt. No. 4 Company, but in ‘Eagle’ Sharpe confirms he is in the 4th Company, 2nd Batt. So presumably he transferred to this company when he took Bunbury’s vacancy. The Sharpe Companion also states that Sharpe transferred from 1st to 2nd Batt. by exchanging with another Lieutenant (not Bunbury), prior to disembarking in the Peninsula. Again perhps Pumphrey engineered this as he knew the 2nd Batt, was headed to Portugal, thus giving Sharpe opportunity for promotion.

Andrew Tyler