Cecil George Cheney

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 07/06/2016 - 10:21

First Name:

Cecil

Middle Name:

George

Last Name:

Cheney

Mother's Name:

Mary Cheney nee Auckland

Father's Name:

Alfred Herbert Cheney

Date Enlisted:

Friday, May 7, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Lance Corporal

Unit:

7th Field Company Engineers

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Wednesday, January 10, 1923

Place of Death:

Wollongong, N.S.W.

Cause of Death:

War related

Details:

Cecil Cheney was born in Wollongong, N.S.W. in 1891.

At enlistment Cecil was single, 22 years old and employed as a carpenter.

War documents which appear to refer Cecil George Cheney of Wollongong have differing Service No's: 1036 and 4073. Records attached to this entry have noted the relevant Service No, but no reason for this discrepency has been determined to date.

Cecil embarked from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic with C Company, 18th Battalion, on 25th June 1915. After arriving in Egypt he transferred to 4th Field Company Engineers on 12th August 1915.

Cecil saw service in Egypt and Gallipoli and on 25th February 1916 transferred to 7th Field Company engineers, where he joined his brother Allen Cheney (Service No 2770).

Cecil was then sent on to France, arriving on 19th March 1916 and saw service on the Western Front.

On 20th February 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

On 19th April 1917 he was wounded in action and evacuated to England for treatment of a gun shot wound to his left arm. The wound was serious and he was returned to Australia in August 1917, then discharged medically unfit on 1st December 1917.

Cecil married Viola Shoesmith in Wollongong and they had one child.

Cecil died in Wollongong on 10th January 1923 and is buried in Wollongong General Cemetery; his headstone reads 'An Anzac'.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, CHENEY C G (Service No 4073)