The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with C.

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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

Sgt. Harold Charles "Cheddar" Cheese .     Royal Air Force 15 Squadron

My father Harold Cheese is still alive (age 92), he served from 1942 to until sometime in the 1950's I believe.




Cpl. Albert Patrick "Jumbo" Cheeseman .     British Army Middlesex Regiment   from Henson, Mill Hill, London

Grandad, Albert Cheeseman served at Monte Casino and in North Africa and Austria during WWII. He said that a troop ship that he was on was bombed by the Americans and he was taken to an American field hospital where he received the Purple Heart only to have it taken away when it was realised he wasn't American. He was awarded a British medal, I think, a silver star but I don't have any other detail.

He was said to have tried to save his friend, possibly when the ammunition truck he was driving was hit at Monte Casino, but, again, I don't have further detail.

Grandad joined the Territorial Army in the 1930s and served throughout the whole of WWII. His father was a RSM, also of the Middlesex Regiment serving in the Boar War and WWI so he had a lot to live up to but only managed a short term promotion from Private to Corporal. I think he did more than his bit though so no shame there. He was an Ammunition Truck Driver.




LC Cheeseman .     British Army Rifle Brigade

LC Cheeseman served with the Rifle Brigade British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




L/Cpl Cyril Tracy "Ginger" Cheesman .     British Army 613 C(M)T Coy Royal Army Service Corps   from Margate, Kent

My dad, Cyril Tracy Cheesman, nicknamed ''Ginger'' was in 613 C(M)T Coy RASC. He was in the Eighth Army. He wrote down on the back of a photo to my mum all the places he visited during his time during the North African conflict.

I assume due to German activity in the Med, his convoy went to Cape Town first. I'll now mention some of the places on his very comprehensive list:

  • Port Taufuq,
  • Port Said,
  • Cairo,
  • Tahag,
  • Beersheba,
  • Gaza,
  • Jerusalem,
  • Tel Aviv,
  • Jaffa,
  • Jericho,
  • Tiberius,
  • Beirut,
  • Alexandria,
  • El Alamein,
  • El Dhba,
  • Sidi Barrani,
  • El Adem,
  • Tobruk,
  • Benghazi,
  • Marble Arch,
  • Sirte,
  • Homs,
  • Tripoli,
  • Gabes,
  • Sfax,
  • Naples,
  • Anzio,
  • Pompei,
  • Rome,
  • Perugia,
  • Florence,
  • Rimini,
  • Bologna,
  • Ravenna,
  • Venice,
  • Trieste,
  • Udine,
  • Villache.

I've noticed on various sites that its very difficult to find details about soldiers that served in the RASC. I cannot find any reference to his company, I'm assuming that C(M)T stands for Corps of Military Transport??




Spr. Walter Cheesman .     British Army 42 Field Coy. Royal Engineers

My father served in Africa and Italy in the 8th Army.




Able Seaman. Elijah Cheetham .     Royal Navy HMS Penelope   from Longley Avenue, Sheffield

My brother Elijah Cheetham, served on HMS Penelope and was onboard when she was sunk on the 18th of February 1944. I was 8 years old at that time. Recent documentarion has come to light confirming his service record. He volunteered for the Navy on the 28th of July 1943, his service is listed as comencing on 17th of December 1943, his 18th birthday. However he began his training at HMS Raleigh on the 28th of July 1943, transferring to HMS Victory on the 5th of October.

He joined HMS Penelope on the 12th of November 1943 and served onboard until she was lost in Feb 1944. He survived the sinking and sent a letter to his mother two weeks later. Here are some extracts from that letter:

From Mess 1, Ferdola Barracks, Malta.

I'm terribly sorry I haven't written to you for the last fortnight, I have been rather ill in hospital. I am a survuivor of HMS Penelope. As you know we have been doing a lot of work on the 5th Army front and our rewards was as follows:

It was Friday morning Feb 18th and we were well on our way to Anzio to give Jerry another suprise packet, but it was us that received the suprise. All of a sudden there was a terrific explosion and everyone dived for the gangway to get on the upper deck to see what was happening. We had been torpedoed but the ship was not sinking, although it had listed badly to starboard. No one was in a panic because there were too many lads injured to start worrying about ourselves, so we did the best we could to get the injured lads to sickbay. Shortly afterwards there came two more explosions (torpedoes) and the ship split in two so it was everyman for himself. I didn't hesitate because before I knew where I was I hit the water fully dressed, including sea boots, stockings and overalls.

I tried to swim for it but couldn't because my sea boots seemed to be dragging me under. I kicked these off and my overalls. Much to my relief I was able to keep my head up even though the sea was rough. I swam about for a bit but I soon got fatigued and felt myself slipping. Family came to mind and I struck out with renewed strength. After three hours I was finally picked up and dragged aboard absolutley naked apart from my waist belt and ring. Three tots of rum sent me to sleep.

We were taken to a hospital in Naples and there I have been for the last fortnight. We were then drafted to this camp once more and I was told that I should be going home. The big nobs think otherwise. I haven't done enough time out here yet, so I must stay. That's how you get treated as a survivor. All we have been issued with is toilet gear and battle dress, so it looks as if I shall have to buy new kit myself.

There were 750 in the ships company and only 200 were saved. Terrible isn't it. I am pleased to say that Stan Lake survived. I couldn't write to you seperatley. I have had to smuggle this into the country, the ship hasn't been announced as sunk yet. We are not allowed to mention that we survived. Paddy is going home so I have asked him to post this for me in England. It doesn't get sensored there, but he insists on bringing this personally. I do hope he makes it becasue I know he will get a great welcome. Please try not to worry too much about me I'm ok now and believe me I'm willing to go back and give Jerry exactly what I received and more. Even though I'm not coming home I still have that consolation of squaring things up.

Cherrio and God bless you all. Your loving son Lidge xxxx.

Elijah joined the Black Prince in July 1944 and served onboard for the remainer of the war, he was discharged on the 8th of December 1946 as having served with very good character.




Pte Charles Albert Cheffers .     British Army 8th Btn Royal Warwickshire Regiment




F/S L. H. Chell .     Royal Air Force 10 Sqd. (d. 3rd Feb 1945 )




Lt. Antoine Chemin. .     Free French Airforce 347 Squadron (d.15th Mar 1945)

Antoine Chemin served as an Air Gunner with 347 Tunisie Sdq Free French he was killed on 15th of Mar 1945 when his aircraft crashed near Scawton.




L/Cpl. James Michael Cheney .     British Army 1st Btn. Middlesex Regiment   from Marylebone, London

My father, Jimmy Cheney, served as a machine gunner with the Middlesex Regiment defending Hong Kong in WW2. Very little of this story is from him. He never spoke about within my hearing when I was young (I was born in 1947), although I did overhear a little when he spoke about it occasionally with his two brothers who served in Europe during the war. The eldest brother was killed in North Africa. He did speak more freely when I got older but, unfortunately, he died at an early age which meant that much of his experiences were left un-said. I did get some of his stories from my mother and some of the other older members of the family but as always with family stories, they are embellished or parts forgotten.

He claimed he was captured by the Japanese on 25th December 1941 although his record shows it was 26th December. He was incarcerated in Hong Kong for nearly a year and then embarked on the Lisbon Maru for transport to Japan. The ship was torpedoed by USS Grouper on 1st October 1942 and my father was one of the lucky ones to escape from the holds and spent some time (he said more than a day) until he was picked up by a Japanese warship and transported to Osaka. He was put into a POW camp and was forced to work in the docks. I still have to find out which of the camps he was in. During his time as a POW he contracted various diseases including malaria and beriberi. The camp was bombed a number of times by the US Air Force, which my father said was because they mistook it for a troop camp. I suspect it was no more than some saturation bombing of the dock area which meant the camp was likely to be hit by mistake rather than design.

He spent some time in a sweat box for stealing sugar and claimed that probably saved his life because one night the camp was hit by bombs and some of his friends were killed.

He was finally liberated by the Americans following the Japanese surrender and, according to my mother, was transported home via Canada and he arrived at Londons Waterloo station. My father was 6ft 2in tall and a well-built man with a full head of hair. When he went to Hong Kong he weighed almost 15 stones. When he arrived home he was almost bald and weighed about 8 stones. For much of the fifties he suffered from the effects of his time as a POW including malaria. He finally died in 1972 aged 54. He never bore any ill will towards the Japanese and said that although the officers were cruel and brutal, the ordinary soldiers were just doing what they were told. If they were ordered to punish someone they knew if they didn't, they would be punished and the person would get punished anyway by someone else. He always wanted to go back to Japan and see the country but never made it. I have been lucky; I have lived in Singapore for four years and have had the opportunity to visit Osaka. It felt a little like a pilgrimage for the old man.




L/Cpl. Frank Albert "Nobble" Cherries .     British Army 9th Btn. Parachute Regt   from Southampton, Hants.

(d.18th Apr 1945)

Frank Cherries was my sister in law's cousin and at the beginning of the war as youngsters we all hung out together, spending time with our parents. He was a pow at Stalag 4B having been captured at Arnhem. We understand that when released by allied forces that during some kind of fracas, shots were exchange between the American and Russian forces. It was during the exchange of fire that he was killed.




Sgt. A. Cherrington .     Royal Air Force 57 Sqdn.

Lancaster W4948, DX-S was shot down by an intruder on 23/9/1943. Two escaped by parachute, the others died. The members of the crew were:

  • Sgt H.R. Ellmer - commemorated at Haywards Heath Cemetery
  • F/O P.N. Rolfe - buried in Nottingham Cemetery
  • P/O G.A. Duff - buried in Cambridge City Cemetery
  • Sgt R.P. Smith - buried in Cambridge City Cemetery
  • F/Sgt W. Pryde - buried in Cambridge City Cemetery
  • Sgt A. Cherrington - bailed out
  • Sgt R.C. Brown - bailed out




  • Pte Bernard Cherry .     British Army Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light infantry   from 27 West St, Osney, Oxford




    Pte. Dennis Frank Cherry .     British Army 5th Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment   from Steeple Claydon, Buckingham

    (d.20th July 1945)

    Frank Cherry served with 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment.




    L/Cpl. Fredrick Cherry .     British Army 5th Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.3rd May 1917)




    Cpl. George William Cherry .     British Army 4th Btn. D Coy. Royal West Kent Regiment   from Dagenham

    My grandad George Cherry, when I was a toddler was the most amazing person in the world, telling me how he was shot in the leg and the Jap snipers were hiding in the trees and that he drove around Bren Carriers in the war. Only after the war did I found out he may have been involved in the Battle of Kohima, the Rorke's Drift of the 2nd World War, and every now and then I look through his photos from the war mostly of him enjoying himself during leave.

    My grandad is in the middle to the left of the tear on the very top row of his regiment photo. Then in the 2nd photo I believe maybe his company photo, he is in the 2nd from top row on the far right. I would love to know if anyone recognizes anyone in the photos.




    J Cherry .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

    J Cherry served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

    Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




    TE Cherry .     British Army

    TE Cherry served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

    Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




    Gnr. William Bennett Cherry .     British Army 57th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (d.10th Dec 1944)




    RF Chesey .     British Army

    RF Chesey served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

    Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




    Fireman. Ronald Albert Chesham .     National Fire Service Hendon Fire Station

    Ronald Chesham, National Fire Service Certificate

    My grandfather Ronald Chesham served with the National Fire Service during WW2. I believe he was stationed in Hendon, Greater London. The only document I have is his service certificate.




    Cpl. Arthur Edward Cheshire .     British Army




    F/Lt. Christopher Cheshire .     Royal Air Force 76 Squadron

    I met Leonard Cheshire, the brother of Christopher Cheshire in the final years of his life and have found out that Christopher Cheshire's Halifax bomber of 76 squadron was shot down after a raid on Berlin on 8/9th August 1942. He survived with all his crew and was imprisoned at Stalag Luft 5 for the duration of the war. He read the first mass at his brother's funeral in 1992.




    Gp.Capt. Geoffrey Baron Cheshire Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC..     Royal Air Force 102 Squadron




    Grp Capt. Leonard Geoffrey Cheshire VC, DSO, DFC..     Royal Air Force 102 Squadron   from Cavendish, Suffolk.




    Grp.Capt. Leonard Cheshire .     102 Squadron




    Kenneth Emery Chesley .     United States Army Field Artillery 31st Dixie Division   from Jackson, Michigan




    Alan Chesney .     British Army 4th Btn. East Yorkshire Regiment   from Goole, East Yorkshire

    Alan Chesney was born on Christmas Eve 1918 and joined the East Yorkshire Regiment 4th Battalion in 1939, wishing to fight for his country. He was deployed to France and was left behind at Dunkirk, himself and his group took a small rowing boat and sailed back to Ramsgate. On the boat his captain (or whoever was in charge) was mistreating the soldiers, in response Alan told him to stop or otherwise he would throw him off of the boat; Alan was a wonderful, caring man but not one to give empty threats.

    When he returned to England he was diagnosed with a lung infection and was not allowed to return to the war as he wished, it was discovered that he was an engineer and was enlisted as a pattern maker and draftsman.

    After the war he designed engines for ocean liners, owned a fish and chip shop with his family and was loyal and caring for his family until the end. In 1969-1970 my grandmother was captured along side her infant daughter (my mother) and my mother's half sister by my grandmother's partner at the time. Alan broke into the house and rescued all three and drove them away to safety. Devastatingly, in 1971 he was the first man in his village to receive radiotherapy for his throat cancer. He was given far over the correct dosage and he passed away in one of the most slow and agonising ways imaginable. He has been my idol and hero for years now and I will forever be proud and respectful of my great grandfather Alan Chesney, 1918-1971.




    CPO. Henry Chesney .     Royal Navy HMS Saker Fleet Air Arm   from Gillingham, Kent

    Harry Chesney joined the Royal Navy as a shipwright apprentice in 1914. Around 1939 now a CPO he transferred to the Fleet Air Arm. In 1943 he sailed to the USA on an almost empty Queen Mary and did not know until he arrived that Winston Churchill had been aboard travelling for a meeting with Roosevelt.

    Harry spent the next two years at Roosevelt Field, New York and travelled home on an almost empty Queen Elizabeth. He was demobbed in 1946 but carried on as a civilian writer at a base near Abingdon. When he finally returned home to Gillingham he returned "to his tools" as a shipwright in RN Dockyard Chatham where he worked on submarine conversions.




    Capt. John Stanley I'anson Chesshire MC..     British Army Royal Army Medical Corps   from Worcestershire

    John Chesshire died aged 96 on the 27th of November 2011. His obituary appeared in the Daily Telegraph on the 3rd of January 2012 as follows:

    In March 1944 Chesshire, a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), was serving as Medical Officer to 1st Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment (1 SSR), part of 77th Indian Infantry Brigade. In the middle of the month the Brigade blocked the railway at Henu, northern Burma. Faced with this threat to their supply lines, the Japanese attacked and, on March 17, the regimental aid post manned by Chesshire and a colleague, Captain Thorne, was overrun.

    The two officers continued to operate and tend the wounded until a counter-attack repelled the enemy. Days of heavy shelling followed, but Chesshire carried on with his work even though it meant standing in the open while others were able to take shelter. During the first two weeks of the month-long battle, he was senior MO to the Brigade. On at least five occasions shells landed close to his operating theatre. The citation for his MC estimated that 500 men had passed through his hands during the campaign. It paid tribute to his tireless energy under dreadful conditions, which had saved many lives and provided a great boost to morale.

    John Stanley I’Anson Chesshire, the son of a clergyman, was born on September 8 1915 at the rectory at Stourport-on-Severn. After leaving Marlborough he wanted to become a missionary, a vocation that his father had followed as a young man. He decided, however, to become a doctor, reasoning that he would find other ways to satisfy his initial ambition. He went up to Birmingham University to read Medicine and was then apprenticed to the city’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. As a junior registrar he was always short of money and supplemented his income by assisting the brain surgeon – who could only use the theatres at night because of the length of time that most of his operations took.

    When war was declared Chesshire was exempted from call-up but, after pestering the authorities, joined the RAMC and accompanied 1 SSR to India and then Burma. After the conflict he started practising as a GP, based at Knighton, Radnorshire; in the early 1950s, however, he resigned from the National Health Service and transferred to the Colonial Service so that he could take his surgical skills to Malaya. After eight years there during the Emergency, he spent a year in Sumatra as Esso’s chief medical officer.

    Chesshire subsequently returned to Knighton and became a hill-farmer, rearing Welsh ewes and Hereford cattle. During the lambing season he converted a large wooden crate into a shepherd’s hut, had it taken to the top of Stowe Hill and camped with just a primus stove for warmth.

    When the missionary in him emerged once more, he set off for Borneo. On one occasion, on a trip into the jungle to attend someone who was ill, he experienced severe stomach pains. A self-diagnosis confirmed his fears. He had acute appendicitis and he was the only medical practitioner for many miles. He did, however, have a medical orderly with him whom he instructed to set up a primitive operating table with a mirror over it. Chesshire then gave himself a large dose of local anaesthetic and, with the aid of the mirror, proceeded to guide the orderly through an operation to remove the appendix.

    He retired from farming in the late 1970s but continued to practise medicine and enjoyed fishing into old age. An accomplished fly fisherman, when his legs were not strong enough to support him, he would tie himself to a tree to avoid falling into the water. Geology was another absorbing interest and he achieved some striking results using boot polish to make paintings of rock formations. He married, in 1949, Marion Walker. She predeceased him and he is survived by their three sons and a daughter.





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