Francis Bowman Cheadle

Francis Cheadle (Service No 798) was born in Wollongong, N.S.W. but moved to Sydney with his family when he was young and attended Fort Street School.

Francis was a keen sportsman and played Rugby Union.  He was about to be selected for the National Rugby team when he decided to change codes and joined the new Rugby League.  He was selected for the first Kangaroo team and went to New Zealand with them.

Francis enlisted when he was 29 years old.  He was single and working as a salesman.   A man of some ability, he enlisted as a Private but soon after, on 29th March 1915 was promoted to Warrant Officer.  Francis was the Regimental Sergeant Major for 17th Battalion and embarked from Sydney on HMAT A32 Themistocles with B Company on 12th May 1915.  The troops arrived at Gallipoli with the 17th Battalion, having arrived on 16th August 1915.

On 1st October 1915 Francis was Commissioned, 2nd Lieutenant, in the Field and transferred to D Company, 18th Battalion.

After the evacuation he returned to Egypt and on 15 March 1916 was promoted to Lieutenant. 

Francis arrived in France on 25th March 1916.  On 12th May 1916 he was on a scouting patrol in no mans land; the moon was bright and he was seen by the enemy.  He was fired on and sustained a gun shoot to the head as the patrol withdrew.

Francis was taken to 7th Australian Field Ambulance for treatment but died there.

He is buried in Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Plot I, Row G, Grave 22.