CHEESEMAN, William Joseph Robert
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 February 1915, 3 yrs Sgt Aust Corps of Signallers 2 yrs 10 mths Commissioned 16th Inf |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wickham, New South Wales, Australia, 12 January 1894 |
| Home Town: | Newcastle, Hunter Region, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Islington Public School, Wickham Superior Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Manager Stationery Department |
| Died: | Complications due to surgery, Adelaide, South Australia, 23 April 1938, aged 44 years |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW ANGLICAN 2-124. 47 |
| Memorials: | Cook's Hill Superior Public School , St Mark's HR Islington, Wickham "Citizens of Wickham" Volunteers Honour Roll, Wickham Public School Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 30th Infantry Battalion, 3 yrs Sgt Aust Corps of Signallers 2 yrs 10 mths Commissioned 16th Inf | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked Lieutenant, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement Lieutenant, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 30th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 30th Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Sep 1917: | Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, 53rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Honoured Military Cross, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed the utmost coolness and initiative when commanding an outpost line. They were surprised and outflanked by a strong enemy force, which broke through. He at once organized a counter attack and succeeded in driving back the enemy and restoring the outpost line again | |
| 13 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, Officer, 53rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Jan 1920: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, North of Bellicourt on the 1st October, 1918, he showed marked gallantry and initiative. His battalion had to attack at dawn, and to reach the start line had to move over a mile and a half of ground, intersected by the Hindenburg system, in the dark. When dawn broke they came under heavy converging machine gun fire, and he got his men into artillery columns and personally led them over to the start line, and got the atack up in line with the flank troops. Later in the day he made a reconnaissance forward under exceptionally heavy fire, and obtained most valuable information |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
80 years ago today, on the 29th April 1938, the ashes were interred at Sandgate Cemetery (ANGLICAN 2-124. 47.) of Lieutenant Colonel William Joseph Robert Cheeseman (D.S.O., M.C., M.I.D., CROIX de CHEVALIER., LEGION D' HONNEUR), 53rd Battalion, Stationery Department Manager (David Cohen & Co), of 125 Fern Street, Islington, New South Wales and "Melrose", Collaroy Road, New Lambton, N.S.W. and 4 Park Crescent, Linden Park, South Australia, age 44.
Mr Cheeseman was born at Throsby Street, Wickham, New South Wales on the 12th January 1894 to Joseph Ernest and Annie Amelia Cheeseman nee Wells, husband of Marguerite Ruperta Tracy (Trix) Cheeseman nee Scott (born 24.5.1924, married 1915, died 30.1.1968).
William enlisted October 1915 with the 30th Battalion at Sydney, N.S.W.
This a short history of a giant of the 1st A.I.F.
Educated at Islington Public School and Wickham Superior Public School.
He was mentioned in despatches in January 1917. On the 23rd March 1917 his gallantry earned him the Military Cross, and the Legion d honneur, and he was promoted major in April 1917.
Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel 29th September 1917 aged only 23, he was one of the youngest battalion commanders in the A.I.F.
He was gassed at Villers-Bretonneux in April 1918 but returned to his unit and saw further action at Morlancourt, Amiens, Peronne and Bellicourt. His gallantry at Bellicourt on the 1st October 1918 won him the Distinguished Service Order, and he was mentioned in despatches twice in 1918-19.
William returned home June 1919.
In 1936 he moved to Adelaide as general manager for Woolworths Ltd in South Australia. William died on 23 April 1938 after an operation for appendicitis.
He was cremated in Adelaide and his ashes were buried in Sandgate Cemetery. Noted for his giant physique and genial disposition, Cheeseman was a popular A.I.F. leader who had the confidence of his superiors despite his youth.
After the war he was president of the 53rd Battalion Association for many years.
Father of two (Nell and Josephine).
Mr Cheeseman’s name has been inscribed on the Lambton and New Lambton Roll of Honor, Wickham Superior Public School Roll Of Honour, Wickham Municipal District Roll of Honor, Cooks Hill Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Islington St. Mark's Anglican Church Roll of Honour (photo) and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.
Courtesy of Gary Mitchell
Military Cross
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed the utmost coolness and initiative when commanding an outpost line. They were surprised and outflanked by a strong enemy force, which broke through. He at once organized a counter attack and succeeded in driving back the enemy and restoring the outpost line again.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169
Date: 4 October 1917
Distinguished Service Order
'North of Bellicourt on the 1st October, 1918, he showed marked gallantry and initiative. His battalion had to attack at dawn, and to reach the start line had to move over a mile and a half of ground, intersected by the Hindenburg system, in the dark. When dawn broke they came under heavy converging machine gun fire, and he got his men into artillery columns and personally led them over to the start line, and got the atack up in line with the flank troops. Later in the day he made a reconnaissance forward under exceptionally heavy fire, and obtained most valuable information.
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 10
Date: 29 January 1920
Legion D'Honneur : Croix de Chevalier (France)
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189
Date: 8 November 1917
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Served bravely and with great distinction during The Great War, now resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
84 years ago today, on the 29th April 1938, the ashes were interred at Sandgate Cemetery of Lieutenant Colonel William Joseph Robert Cheeseman (D.S.O., M.C., M.I.D., CROIX de CHEVALIER., LEGION D' HONNEUR), 53rd Battalion, Stationery Department Manager (David Cohen & Co), of 125 Fern Street, Islington, New South Wales and "Melrose", Collaroy Road, New Lambton, N.S.W. and 4 Park Crescent, Linden Park, South Australia, father of two (Nell and Josephine), age 44. ANGLICAN 2-124. 47. (William died on the 23rd April 1938. Funeral held on the 25th April 1938 at the West Terrace Crematorium, Adelaide, South Australia.)
William was born at Throsby Street, Wickham, New South Wales on the 12th January 1894 to Joseph Ernest and Annie Amelia Cheeseman nee Wells (reside at Belmont, N.S.W.); husband of Marguerite Ruperta Tracy (Trix) Cheeseman nee Scott (born 24.5.1924, married 1915, Marrickville, N.S.W., died 30.1.1968, Newtown, N.S.W.).
William enlisted October 1915 with the 30th Battalion at Sydney, N.S.W.
Wounded in action - 17.4.1918 (gassed, mild).
Invalided to England 22.4.1918.
Educated at Islington Public School and Wickham Superior Public School.
He was mentioned in despatches in January 1917. On the 23rd March 1917 his gallantry earned him the Military Cross, and the Legion d honneur, and he was promoted major in April 1917.
Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel 29th September 1917 aged only 23, he was one of the youngest battalion commanders in the A.I.F.
He was gassed at Villers-Bretonneux in April 1918 but returned to his unit and saw further action at Morlancourt, Amiens, Peronne and Bellicourt. His gallantry at Bellicourt on the 1st October 1918 won him the Distinguished Service Order, and he was mentioned in despatches twice in 1918-19.
William returned home on the 23rd July 1919, being discharged on the 13th September 1919.
He was cremated in Adelaide and his ashes were buried in Sandgate Cemetery. Noted for his giant physique and genial disposition, Mr. Cheeseman was a popular A.I.F. leader who had the confidence of his superiors despite his youth.
After the war he was president of the 53rd Battalion Association for many years.
Mr. Cheeseman’s name has been inscribed on the Lambton and New Lambton Roll of Honor, Wickham Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Wickham Municipal District Roll of Honour Board (1), Cooks Hill Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Islington St. Mark's Anglican Church Roll of Honour and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.
Service record states Died after Discharge, 22.4.1938.
Plaque in New South Wales Garden of Remembrance.
Many thanks to Lyndall Eeg and Marguerite Grey (Granddaughters) for the family history and photos.
Lest We Forget.
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