Cecil Sharpe was brought up near Oamaru. His father, Francis George Sharpe (d. 4.6.1917) was a shepherd/farm manager in the district. His mother, Florence Sharpe, (d.1952), was the organist at the church in Kurow. He and his brother Gerald (Barney) joined the Government Training Ship Amokura and served on it for two years.

Captain Sharpe served as an officer on various Union Steam Ship Company ships, including Tahiti which carrried troops from New Zealand to the United Kingdom in 1917-18; Manuka which sailed from Wellington to Sydney and Mokoia which sailed to the United States in 1920. He was the Chief Officer on Union Company passenger ships to Canada and the USA from 1927 to 1933.

In 1933 he got his Master's ticket and commanded a number of ships including the Waipiata, Kaiwarra NZ (on the phosphate carrying trip from Nauru), Wahine, Monowai and Makura. He was made wharf superintendent, Wellington in 1947 and when he died on 7 September 1953 all the company flags both on ships and on shore flew at half mast.

Father of Stephen Sharpe (NZ 4210006)

His funeral service was held in All Sainst Anglican Church, Hataitai.

A copy of the souvenir edition of The Wireless News HMS Tahiti 1927 has been donated to the Museum Library Archives. It was the Chief Officer's own copy.Call no: G550 WIR AWMM