Lt Donald Heriot Anson Cheers - anomalies in records

[Anthony Gorst]

Hi all

I have a Lt Donald Heriot Anson Cheers of the RAF died aged 17 17th April 1918 and buried in Edinburgh (Comley bank) Cemetary. The Polytechnic magazine (me summarising) says joined HM forces with a mistatement of age on enlistment -served for 3 and a half months with BEF from MArch 1915 (so I inferred he must have joined in August-October 1914 aged 13 or 14) discharged from Royal Fusiliers in Dec 1915. Then OTC St Pauls School aged 15. Then from Feb 16 to July 1916 Officer in Poly Cadets Corps in 1918 joined RFC.

MIC has him as Private in 23rd Royal Fusiliers with 1915 Star, British and Victory. Also lists him as 2nd Lt East Surrey Regt and RFC/RAF: CWGC has him as 3rd East Surreys. One anomaly from the Poly account date of entry in theatre is given as 16th November 1915.

I'll post the rest in chunks as it is somewhat lengthy

[Anthony Gorst]

His service record gives the following (Ancestry puzzlingly has it in the pension records)

Stamped duplicate. Attests in 30th Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 13th August 1915 aged 19 and a student. Address 73 Phibeach gardens Earls Court, London. Next of Kin father Henry Arthur of the same address. Previus military service given as 12 months in St Pauls OTC. Joins at Romford (?) the next day and is promoted lance Corporal on 31^st August 1915. Posted 23^rd Royal Fusiliers 13^th October, passed fit for active service 14^th November posted Private 4^th Feb 1916 and discharged due to mistatement of age 11^th February 1916.

Father had written to CO sometime in early November, Infantry record write requesting his birth certificate on 16^th November which his father duly does on 19^th November. This is followed by a further letter from his father dated 23^rd November 1915 appealing for the return of his son from the front 'where he had been shipped after only two months training' as he was only 15 years and 5 months old. His father stated that on discovering his son was posted abroad he protested

'frankly on the 13^th to his Colonel that he should not be sent away (we had a son killed on 25^th Sept, he was a 2^nd Lt in the S. Lancs fusilers) and it is a crying shame that a boy of his tender years, not fully formed yet shoud be exposed to the rigour of wiinter in the trenches.' The letter goes on that he did not like the idea of writing to the public papers but he asked that his son be recalled for Home Service or Munitions work or or any other capacity that he might be useful to the country.

His mother then wrote on 24^th January that she had been informed her son was sick and that a letter from her son had informed her he had swallowed a button and would be put under X rays and that she was in great trouble owing to the death of her son RA Cheers and the illness of her husband. The letter was forwarded to DAG base on 26^th January 1916

Casualty form has Cheers admitted 5^th FA 24^th Nov 1915, admitted DRS 26^th Nov, returned to unit 4^th Dec 1915, joined 33^rd IB (Infantry Brigade) from front, under age on 4^th January; admitted foreign body stomach to 24^th GH (General Hospital?) Rejoined 33 IB Depot 29^th January 1916, transferred to England underage 1^st Feb 1916

Adjutant 33^rd Infantry Brigade orders Cheers home on 1^st Feb 1916 on 6.10 train from Etaples.

Any thoughts on the anomalies etc which have cropped up here? Any assistance gratefully received in particular on the East Surreys angle.

[Lost in Tilloy]

Airmen Died has the following:

Cheers, 2Lt Donald Heriot Anson, 2 TDS [2nd Training Depot Station], pilot, (3/E Surrey Rgt). Native of Twickenham, Middx, age 17, Kwf 17.4.18 [killed whilst flying]. Buried at Edinburgh (Comely Bank), Midlothian.

I think 2TDS was stationed at Gullane which is just down the east coast from Edinburgh.

Have you contacted the RAF Museum to order a copy of his casualty card if it exists?

Regards

LIT

[Starlight]

Hi Tony,

Just in case you haven't read the entry in "Airmen Died in the Great War" here's a little extra information. 2nd Lt Cheers was flying an Avro 504J (Number B4206) at the time of the accident.

Regards

Steve

[fetubi]

Tony,

What I can add to the above is that he crashed after getting into a stall making a flat turn. This is info off his Casualty Card - so he does have one at the RAF Museum.

Regards,

Trevor

[Anthony Gorst]

LiT, Steve, Trevor

Many thanks for this - I'll contact Hendon for the card.....

Tony