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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Pte. Alban Cheetham
British Army 9th Btn. Welsh Regiment
from:Manchester
(d.14th July 1917)
Alban Cheetham was from Ancoats in Manchester. He originally joined the 8th Battalion Welsh Regiment on 20th September 1915 and served in the Balkans at Gallipoli. He died on 14th July 1917 "of accidental wounds" whilst serving with the 9th Battalion Welsh Regiment in the Passchendaele area. Alban is buried at Ballieul Communal Cemetery Extension Nord.
Rifleman Francis Cheevers
Army 13th Bn Royal Irish Rifles
from:Fredrick Street, Killyleagh
(d.1 Jul 1916)
Francis Cheevers from Fredrick Street, Killyleagh, Co Down, Northern Ireland was aged 21 when he was killed in action at Theipval Wood The Somme, France on 1 July 1916. He was the eldest son of John and Sarah Cheevers
Pte. Archibald Chegwin
British Army 1st Btn. Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry
from:Penryn, Cornwall
(d.8th May 1917)
Not much is known about my grandfather, Archibald Chegwin prior to the War. It is thought that he fell at Fresnoy on 8th of May 1917, during a counter attack on German lines. He has no known grave and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Pte. Leonard Chell
British Army 1/6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Stone, Staffordshire
Leonard Chell was a private in the 1st Platoon, A Company, 1/6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He was reported as Missing In Action on 30th of April 1918. He was taken prisoner of war, aged 19, from the Western Front, unwounded, on 27th of May 1918 at Roncy, and went to Langensalza Camp, Germany.
He lived in Staffordshire all his life, and died at the age of 86. He was quite a character to listen to. He was an insurance agent and knew how to talk to people and to hold their attention.
Gnr. William Charles Chenery
British Army 208th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Ipswich. Suffolk
My grandfather Charles Chenery was an agricultural worker and after the War was a docker at Ipswich docks. He used to turn up daily to see if there was work that day! I know nothing of his war experience, nor do living relatives. I want to find more on this unit to see if any info.
Pte. Reuben James Chennells
British Army 18th (London Irish Rifles) Btn. London Regiment
from:Camberwell, Surrey
Reuben Chennells joined the London Irish Rifles and served from 1914 to 1918, latterly as a Lewis gunner. He was gassed twice. He returned in 1918 and married Lavinia McDowell. They had two children, Joan and Lavinia. Reuben died in 1976 aged 80.
Lance Corporal Hubert Cherrett
British Army 1st/4th Batn. A Company South Lancashire Regiment
from:Warrington
(d.4th Jun 1917)
My Grandfather Hubert Cherrett joined the army in February 1915 and was sent to France in July 1916. He married my grandmother, Margaret Cunningham, on the 30th June 1916, just two weeks before he was sent to the front - they never saw each other again and he never met his daughter, Constance, my mother. He was killed on the 4th June 1917, whilst trying to save the life of a comrade. I have a letter written by the Company Sargent Major recommending him for a bravery medal; it gives in great detail how he tried to save the life of a comrade who was injured. However, as he died of his wounds, this letter was never sent and instead was handed to his Brother, Thomas, who was in the same regiment; he subsequently brought this letter home with him and we still have it nearly 100 years later - I have attached this letter to this document. I know that his death devastated his family. I have also attached a cutting from the local newspaper in Warrington and pictures of my grandmother, with my mother as a baby and a picture of Lance Corporal Hubert Cherrett in his uniform. I have looked on the Commonwealth War Graves and cannot find any mention of a Sapper Robson (who was the man my grandfather rescued); I would like to think that he survived and that my grandfather did not die in vain.
Pte. John Thomas Cherrison
British Army 8th Btn. East Kent Regiment
from:Sittingbourne
Jack Cherrison served with the 8th Battalion, East Kent Regiment.
Stok. George Alton Cherry
Royal Navy HMS Yarmouth
George Cherry served on HMS Yarmouth. I have his war records which say he also served on HMS Cressy but know little else. He must have been a clever man as he built steam engines in his spare time and built a large merry go round but sadly these are only my mum's stories.
Gnr. Harry Cherry
British Army 64th Brigade. C Battery. Royal Field Artilley (Burnley Howitzers)
from:Morecambe,
(d.5th Nov 1918)
Harry Cherry served with C Battery, 64th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (Burnley Howitzers) during WW1 and died of dysentry on the 5th November 1918, aged 22. He was listed as a prisoner of war and is commemorated on the Screen Wall in Worms (Hochheim Hill) Cemetery in Germany. He was the son of William and Alice Cherry, of 63, Thursby Rd., Burnley, later of 53, Windsor Rd., Morecambe.
Gnr. Harry Cherry
British Army 64th (Burnley Howitzer) Bde. C Bty Royal Field Artilley
from:Burnley
(d.5th Nov 1918)
Harry Cherry was the son of William and Alice Cherry, of 63, Thursby Rd., Burnley, later of 53, Windsor Rd., Morecambe. He died of dysentery 5th November 1918, aged 22. Listed as a prisoner of War, his name is on the Screen Wall in the Worms (Hochheim Hill) Cemetery, Germany.
Pte. John Giles Cherry
British Army 8th Btn. Gordon Highlanders
from:12 Spittal Street, Stirling
(d.5th July 1915)
John Cherry is commemorated at Holy Trinity Scottish Episcopal Church in Stirling. Son of James and Elizabeth Cherry of 38 Upper Castlehill, Stirling.
Capt. Percy Herbert Cherry VC, MC.
Australian Imperial Force 26th Battalion
from:Australia
(d.27th March 1917)
Percy Herbert Cherry was born in the Australian state of Victoria, Cherry moved to Tasmania at the age of seven when his family took up an apple orchard. Becoming an expert apple packer, he was also a skilled rifle shot and member of the Franklin rowing club. In 1913, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 93rd Infantry Regiment, Citizens Military Force, and at the outbreak of war, Cherry was sent to Claremont Camp and for duties as a drill instructor. On 5th of March 1915, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and was allotted to the 26th Battalion, where he qualified as an infantry officer, but was considered too young for a commission in the Australian Imperial Force and was instead made a Quartermaster Sergeant. On 29 June, the battalion embarked from Brisbane for Egypt aboard HMAT Aeneas. On arrival, the battalion spent several months training in the desert, where Cherry was promoted to company sergeant major in August. On 12th September, the battalion landed at Gallipoli and played a defensive role at Courtney's and Steele's Posts, and Russell's Top.
On 1 December, injured by bomb wounds to his face and head, Cherry was evacuated to Egypt, where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 9 December. Three days later, the 26th Battalion was withdrawn from Gallipoli and evacuated to Egypt where Cherry rejoined them in preparation for service on the Western Front. Cherry was selected to attend a machine gun course in March 1916. After completion of this, he was transferred to the 7th Machine Gun Company in France.
He commanded the company's 1st Battery at Fleurbaix, Messines and on the Somme until 5 August, when he was wounded in a duel with a German officer at Pozieres. He and a German officer, who was leading an attack against Cherry's position, were exchanging shots from neighbouring shell-holes. Eventually, they both rose, firing simultaneously. The German officer hit Cherry in the neck but was mortally wounded by Cherry in return. Cherry approached the dying man, who pulled a package of letters from his pocket, and asked Cherry to have them censored and posted. Cherry promised to do so and the German handed over the letters, with the words; "And so it ends". He died shortly afterwards. As a result of his wounds, Cherry was evacuated to England for treatment.
Promoted to Lieutenant on 25 August 1916, Cherry returned to his unit on the Somme in November. The following month he was made a temporary captain and transferred back to the 26th Battalion as the commanding officer of C Company. His rank was confirmed on 14 February 1917, and on 1 March he was involved in the battalion's actions around the village of Warlencourt. At 03:00 on 2 March, Cherry led his company in an attack on the German held position of Malt Trench, situated between the villages of Warlencourt and Bapaume. Artillery fire had failed to adequately cut the barbwire lines for the advancing troops, and Cherry led a section of men along the wire until he found a break in it. Once through the gap, he rushed two machine gun posts, capturing one single-handed, and turned one on the fleeing Germans before being wounded himself. For his actions during the engagement, Cherry was awarded the Military Cross.
On 26 March 1917, the 7th Brigade,of which the 26th Battalion was part, was tasked with the capture of Lagnicourt. An artillery barrage opened up on the village at 05:15 and continued for twenty minutes, allowing the infantry to close in. The plan was that Cherry's company would storm the village itself while the battalion's other companies encircled it. For the assault, Cherry split his company into two sections; he commanded one section himself and placed the other under Lieutenant William Frederick Joseph Hamilton. The company was soon in action. Cherry's section captured a large fortified farm on the edge of the village. As they entered the muddy main street, the Australians came under heavy fire from the houses lining the road and from an adjacent stable yard. Cherry "rushed the stable yard" and a fierce fire fight developed, before the Germans surrendered. As Cherry and his men moved through Lagnicourt, they found the main resistance coming from a large chalky crater. The Germans' stout defence was holding up the advance and Cherry sent a messenger back for more Stokes mortars. Becoming impatient at the delay, Cherry decided to rush the position under the cover of Lewis Gun and rifle grenade fire. Capturing the crater, he found Lieutenant Harold Hereward Bieske at the bottom wounded. Bieske had taken over command of the second section when Lieutenant Hamilton was wounded, and it had now been reduced to six men.
After capturing the crater, Cherry pushed on through the village, where his party emerged from among the buildings on the far side. Another stiff fight ensured with a group of Germans in dug-outs by the side of the road, before the company was able to meet up with its fellow units which had bypassed the village and were already established to the north and east of the area. Cherry's orders were to fall back into reserve, but he disregarded them as he sensed a counter-attack was forthcoming. At 09:00 on 27 March, the Germans launched a very strong counter-attack under heavy artillery fire. At one point, Cherry noticed that the Germans were firing yellow flares to pinpoint Australian positions to their gunners. He found some of these flares, and fired them away from his position. The German attempts to retake Lagnicourt, at a cost to the 7th Brigade of 377 casualties, raged all day before they abandoned the counter attack.
In the afternoon of the 27 March 1917, a shell burst in a sunken road to the east of Lagnicourt, killing Cherry and several other men. pHe was buried in Queant Road Cemetery, Buissy, Plot VIII, Row C, Grave 10. The full citation for Cherry's posthumous award of the Victoria Cross appeared in a supplement to the London Gazette on 11 May 1917, it reads:
War Office, 11th May, 1917. His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers and Man: 2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) Percy Herbert Cherry, M.C., late Aus. Imp. Force. For most conspicuous bravery, determination and leadership when in command of a company detailed to storm and clear a village. After all the officers of his company had become casualties he carried on with care and determination, in the face of fierce opposition, and cleared the village of the enemy. He sent frequent reports of progress made, and when held up for some time by an enemy strong point he organised machine gun and bomb parties and captured the position. His leadership, coolness and bravery set a wonderful example to his men. Having cleared the village, he took charge of the situation and beat off the most resolute and heavy counter-attacks made by the enemy. Wounded about 6.30 a.m., he refused to leave his post, and there remained, encouraging all to hold out at all costs, until, about 4.30 p.m., this very gallant officer was killed by an enemy shell.
Cherry's Victoria Cross was presented to his father by the Governor of Tasmania, Sir Francis Newdegate, in Hobart during October 1917.
Captain Percy Herbert Cherry VC, MC
Australian Imperial Force 26th Btn.
from:Huon, Tasmania
(d.27th March 1917)
Percy Cherry was killed in action on 27th March 1917aged 21 and is buried in the Queant Road Cemetery in France. He was the son of John Gawley Cherry and Elizabeth Cherry, of Cradoc, Huon, Tasmania. Born at Drysdale, Victoria.
An extract from the London Gazette, dated 11th May, 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery, determination and leadership when in command of a company detailed to storm and clear a village. After all the officers of his company had become casualties he carried on with care and determination in the face of fierce opposition, and cleared the village of the enemy. He sent frequent reports of progress made, and when held up for some time by an enemy strong point, he organised machine gun and bomb parties and captured the position. His leadership, coolness and bravery set a wonderful example to his men. Having cleared the village, he took charge of the situation and beat off the most resolute and heavy counter-attacks made by the enemy. Wounded about 6.30 a.m., he refused to leave his post, and there remained, encouraging all to hold out at all costs, until, about 4.30 p.m. this very gallant officer was killed by an enemy shell."
Pte. Arthur John Chesher
British Army 9th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
from:Paddington
(d.27th April 1918)
Pte. Joseph Chesney
British Army 22nd Btn. Manchester Regiment
(d.29th Feb 1916)
L/Cpl. Robert Chesnutt
British Army 11th Btn. B Coy. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
from:Derrylaghan, Kilcar, Co. Donegal.
(d.7th Jun 1917)
Pte. Andrew Baxter Chessar
British Army 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders
from:Edinburgh
(d.25th April 1917)
Pte. E. Chesser
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
Gnr. Alfred James Chessman
British Army 142nd Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Egham, Surrey
(d.30th May 1917)
My Grandfather, Alfred Chessman was born in 1881 and died 30th May 1917 of burns, which were inflicted a week earlier on 23rd May, in or near Arras. Alfred had five children, my father being his youngest son, who was born 4 months after Alfred was killed.
We do not know much about his service or deployment in the RGA, apart from where he is buried, near Bethune, France. His Service Records were apparently part of the 'burnt documents' that were lost in the London bombings of WW2. We don't have any medals for him, only the Death Plaque, which has survived even though there is no box or certificate.
I wish I had known this brave man and as it is the Centenary of his death this year, I shall be visiting his grave on 30th May in France.
Able Sea. Robert Bernard Chessman
Royal Navy HMS Magic
from:Tingley, Wakefield
(d.10th April 1918)
Able Seaman Chessman was the son of Thomas and Mary Chessman of Topcliffe Farm, Tingley, Wakefield.
He was 25 when he died and is buried about 3 yards from the South-East corner of the ruins in the Killygarven Catholic Graveyard, Killygarven, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
Pte. Arthur Chester
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
(d.27th Aug 1916)
Arthur Chester was aged 24 when he died of wounds at the Netley Military Hospital in Southampton, he is buried in the Netley Military Cemetery. The inscription At Rest was requested for his headstone by Mrs D A Liddle , Kelveden, Vicarage Terrace, Murton, Co Durham.
William John Chester
British Army Royal Field Artillery
from:West Norwood
My grandfather, William John Chester, served in France in WW1 with the RFA, 33rd division. He was billeted, for a while, in the village of Allery, in the Somme department of France. Here he met a local girl, Germaine (my grandmother), and she later gave birth to a daughter (my Mother). He later wrote to Germaine to say that he wasn't in a position to marry her. He wrote from his home in Durban Road, West Norwood, London. I often wonder if I have any English relatives.
Sister. Chesters
Queen Alexandras Nursing Service No. 16 Stationary Hospital
Pte. George Chesters
British Army 1st Btn. North Staffordshire Regiment
from:Stoke on Trent
(d.30th April 1916)
My great grandad George Chesters sadly, was killed and is laid to rest in Dranoutre Military Cemetery. I hope to find a picture of him.
Pte. Harry Chesterson
British Army 74th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps
from:5 Canton Place, Castle, Northeich, Cheshire
(d.11th October 1918)
Harry Chesterson served with 74th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. I have a cover of the Brunner Mond (prior to ICI) document. Unfortunately the contents are missing. My mother kept it and I found it when she died in 2014. Harry and his brother James (my grandad) both worked at the Brunner Mond works in Northwich. James survived the war, he was also in the RAMC.
Spr. Knightley Chetwood
British Army Royal Engineers
from:Colchester
Pte. Frank Chew
British Army 12th Btn. Manchester Regiment
from:Austerlands
(d.7th July 1916)
Frank Chew is my great uncle Frank. I came about this information while researching my family tree and found he had been killed in the Great War on the 7th of July 1916. I think it was the Battle of Albert were he fell and traced him to the Thiepval cemetery and monument were I think that his name is on.
I was confused because my father was also called Frank and never mentioned him. When my father passed I found a medal from the First World War and I think they call it a death plaque and a note from Buckingham Palace. That's as far as I have got but will try to find more. Last year someone laid a wreath and photograph of him at the house in Austerlands where he lived but couldn't find out who did this. So anyone who reads this I would be most appreciable if they could forward me more information.
Frank Chew
British Army 12th Btn. Manchester Regiment
(d.7th July 1916)
Pte. Harry Leader Chew
British Army 13th Btn Yorkshire Regiment
from:Bourn, Cambridgeshie
(d.27th Mar 1918)
Harry Chew served with 13th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment.
Page 28 of 89
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