CHEESEMAN, Henry Thomas
| Service Number: | 401 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914, AAMC |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, January 1893 |
| Home Town: | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Storeman |
| Died: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 14 July 1954, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania Plaque in Hobart Garden of Remembrance |
| Memorials: | Hobart Roll of Honour, Tasmania (Hobart) Garden of Remembrance |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 401, 12th Infantry Battalion, AAMC | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 401, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: Attached from Australian Medical Corps | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 401, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Hobart | |
| 1 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 401, 12th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , GSW to left eye | |
| 13 Aug 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 401, 12th Infantry Battalion, 6th MD, lost eye to wounding |
Help us honour Henry Thomas Cheeseman's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Sue Guinan
Cpl Henry Thomas CHEESEMAN
(returned to Australia 4th May 1917 after the loss of his left eye)
The following letter was received from Corporal H. Cheeseman, of 3rd Field Ambulance, 1st Australian Division (late of Chas. Davis Ltd.) : — Helonnan Convalescent Home. 18/6/15.
Dear Dad. — Just a few lines, hoping you are well. I suppose the papers have been full about the Dardenelles action and our landing. We left Egypt on the 1st of March, and went to the advance base, Lemnos Island. We were there eight weeks before we got our orders to move. We had a 10-hour run in the steamer. We were in a big P. and O. liner, the ——. Then we had to get into the destroyers, then a four-hour run in where we had to land, and get into the ships' boats and row ashore. The destroyers were just pulled up, when from along the big hill and ridge in front of us the Turks opened fire, but they never daunted us with their shells, etc.
There was no messing about as over the side of the ships boats we went, and up the hill, and they ran. They won't stand the bayonet at any price. They had us at a big disadvantage, too, as they had their big guns, and we had none. Then again, we were all wet through, but we chased them for about two miles, and then en-trenched ourselves in. If we had only the Turks to fight, we would soon finish them, but it is the Germans. They had all German officers, and they drove them with their swords, We landed on the 25th April.
On the 19 May they made a big attack on our position, but we gave them some-thing they will never forget. After the battle they showed the white flag, and sent one of their officers in to ask for a armistice to bury their dead. We granted it for nine hours. They had about 2500 dead in that battle with us. They have christened us the White Gurkhas, and they won't come at us at all now; we have to go at them. Up to the time I left there they had 55,000 killed and wounded. We have and any amount of hard work in the wet and mud, but never a grumble from anyone.
Then the Gurkhas are with us. They always put them with us, and we fight to-gether. They think the world of the colonials, We have a lot of crack British regiments with us, but they cannot show us any points about fighting. I am sending you a slip I cut out of an English paper. It said the heroism of the Australians is unique in the history of modern wars. The fact of the matter is the English papers are full of it day after day. Any bad name we had, we have made a name for Australia to be proud of. We lost our major first day, also the colonel; but of our 28 officers, 18 have survived. So far, we have been fighting a month.
I was recommended for promotion, and have since been made a corporal. We have been in the trenches for six weeks, and I took ill, and they sent me down to the base with pleurisy. Then I was sent back to Egypt to one of the big palace hospitals, but I have got over it, and I am in the Convalescent Home now, so soon will be back. You will have to excuse the writing, as I am not too strong yet. Later by postcard. Just a card to let you know I am well, and leaving the home to-morrow for the Base Detail Camp to go back to the Dardanelles.
Daily Post 27th July 1915
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