Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 24990 George Cheeseman

Age: 27
From: Bromley, Kent
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
D.O.W Sunday 30th January 1916
Commemorated at: Chipilly Cc
Panel Ref: B.9

It has not been possible to identify this soldier. CWGC and military records show this soldier as George Cheeseman; however, one newspaper report of his death gives his name as G. M. Cheesman, 25 years old, and SDGW shows his birthplace as Bromley, Kent. There is no birth of a George M Cheeseman anywhere in England. CWGC gives his parents as John and Ada Cheeseman, but the only births to parents of these names, George W in 1885, and George in 1892, were both in Hull, and both died in infancy.

George enlisted in Liverpool, probably in the first week of February 1915, as No 24990 and was drafted to 17th King's Liverpool Regiment (1st Liverpool Pals).

He embarked for France on 07th November 1915 with 'D' Company of his Battalion.

During a heavy enemy bombardment at Maricourt on 28 January 1916 he was struck in the back by a shell fragment and was admitted to 98 Field Ambulance. He succumbed to his wounds at the Field Ambulance the next day, aged 27, and now rests at Chipilly Communal Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“THEY THAT SOW IN TEARS SHALL REAP IN JOYS”

The village of Chipilly was used by field ambulances in 1916. It was captured by the Germans in March 1918 and retaken in August, after a severe struggle, by the 58th (London) Division. CHIPILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains a Commonwealth plot, begun in August 1915 and used until March 1916. A further burial was added to Row A in April 1918. The communal cemetery now contains 55 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of them unidentified. There are also four French war graves within the plot. CHIPILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION was made by Commonwealth troops between March 1916 and February 1917, then used again for three burials in the summer of 1918. The extension contains 31 First World War burials.

The War Diary of 17th King's Liverpool Regiment records the following for 28 January 1916:

Maricourt Defences 6:30am Heavy bombardment by our guns, apparently on villages in the rear of enemy lines.

7.30am Enemy retaliation on our batteries - heavy shelling.

9.45am Apparent enemy shelling of Suzanne with lachrymatory shells which continued intermittently until about 4pm.

11.10am Very heavy shelling of Maricourt by the enemy (about 1000 shells). Bombardment continued until about 12.30pm. Relief of 20 Liverpools un subsector A4 by 17th Liverpools suspended.

12.30pm Barrage placed across Maricourt-Suzanne Rd and across the valley lying between Maricourt and Suzanne by the enemy, which barrage was kept up until 5.30pm (1 1/2 Coys of 17th Manchesters arrived in support of the Maricourt Defences.

12.57pm Order received from 90th Brigade to man Maricourt Defences

2pm Telegram despatched to 90th Brigade to the effect that Maricourt Defences were manned

3.30pm Intermittent enemy bombardment of 'S' works, Maricourt Defences, which extended until about 5.30pm

6.30pm Cessation of enemy artillery activity. Casualties - Other Ranks 2 killed, 5 wounded [comment: including Private Cheeseman]

George’s death was reported in the Liverpool Echo, on 21st February 1916:

Official information has been received of the death, from wounds, of Private G.M. Cheesman [sic], 17th Battalion K.L.R. (the 1st "Pals"). He was twenty-five years of age, and resided with his widowed mother at 31, Plane St, Everton, Liverpool. He was drafted to France on November 4,1915. The chaplain, writing home to his mother, said: "He was well liked by officers and men, and will be greatly missed by all."

On the first anniversary of his death, in the Liverpool Echo on 30th January 1917 (posted by his mother, spelled Cheeseman):

“In loving memory of Private George Cheeseman (K.L.R.), who died of wounds, in France, January 30, 1916. - Mother and Nellie.”

His mother Ada M. Cheeseman received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £3. A pension card in the name of Mrs. Cheeseman, 31 Plane Street, shows she received a pension of 10/- for one year, increased to 15/-.

After the death of George in 1916 his widowed mother Ada took up a housekeeping job at 90 Arundel Ave, Sefton Park, but sadly succumbed to temptation.

Liverpool Echo 28th April 1926

It was alleged at Liverpool Police Court this morning against Ada Cheeseman (59), a domestic servant, employed till February by Miss Jane Jones and Miss Hannah Jones of 90 Arundel Avenue, Liverpool that since November 1923 she had been systemically robbing her employers. Her employers, who are two sisters, kept the cash box on top of the wardrobe in which were War Saving Certificates amounting to some £61, the key of the cash box was kept in the drawer. On February 21 this year Miss Jane Jones opened the cash box and found it empty. She told Ada Cheeseman that the certificates had disappeared and said she was going to write to London to see if they have been cashed. The next day Ada Cheeseman disappeared. It was discovered that all these certificates had been cashed. Five applications for repayments had been forged, the first in November 1923 and the last in November 1924. Cheeseman, who had been a servant at the house since 1916, was also charged with stealing a tablecloth, a sheet, a blanket, and a silver dish. When charged, Cheeseman denied that she had cashed these certificates or forged the application forms. She was committed for trial at the assizes.

She was found guilty of receiving money by virtue of forged instrument(4 cases), and received a 12 month prison sentence.

An Ada Mace [sic] Cheeseman died in Liverpool in 1931 aged 64, living at 45 Thirlmere Road. She received a parish burial. This ties up with Soldiers Effects record of Ada M. There is a birth record for an Ada Cheeseman in Bromley in the December quarter of 1867, this is most likely George's mother and as such George may well have been illegimate at birth.

George is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 10 Left

We currently have no further information on George Cheeseman, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(109 Years this day)
Sunday 22nd April 1917.
Pte 52865 Hyman Barnett Gadansky
28 years old

(108 Years this day)
Monday 22nd April 1918.
Pte 136181 Edwin Williams
19 years old