Sergeant Archibald Francis Cherry MM, 38680, D/ 82nd Brigade, RFA

[Ivor Anderson]

Sergeant Archibald Francis Cherry MM  - Service no. 38680, D Battery, 82nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

 

Parents (John Cherry and Ellen Mercy (nee Legg) married 12th January 1890 at St Mary Stratford Bow, Tower Hamlets, London.

Born Enderby, Leicestershire Q2 1892

1901 Census: 14 Horace Road, Forest Gate, Essex. Father John aged 34 (silk tie cutter), mother Ellen 34, Mabel 10, Archibald 9, Joseph 3.

1911 Census: Archibald Francis Cherry aged 18, general labourer & lodger on farm, Arnesby & Shearsby, Leicestershire.

1911 Parents at: 24 Talbot Road, Forest Gate (near West Ham), Essex

 

Enlisted Marylebone, London - Landed France 25-07-1915 - no surviving service record?

82nd Brigade part of 18th (Eastern) Division. Hindenburg support line June 1917. Long list of divisional army honours - VII Corps 13 June 1917.

 

Awarded Military Medal LG 28-07-1917, p.7766 as Corporal - Schedule no. 94219.

MM mentioned in the Chelmsford Chronicle of Friday 13 July 1917 - 'son of Mr & Mrs Cherry, Talbot Road, Forest Gate'.

(Two 82nd Brigade MMs recorded in the War Diary on 12-07-17 were in the L. Gazette of 18-07-17, and the MM bar to Gnr. J. Graham, no.945 - in the WD on 18-06-17 - was in the LG of 18-07-17). A lot of named MMs were listed in the August WD, but July's WD appears to be missing?

 

Died 3rd November 1918 aged 26 (8 days before the Armistice). On 3rd Nov. 82nd Bde was moving positions in readiness for an attack.

'Son of John and Ellen Mercy Cherry of Mount Pleasant, Enderby, Leicester'. Buried Montay Communal Cemetery (north of Le Cateau), grave 1.

 

Also entitled to British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914-15 star. MM card from National Archives:

 

Edited 16 May , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

GRAVE at Montay Communal Cemetery:   https://www.ww1cemeteries.com/montay-communal-cemetery.html

 

Edited 16 May , 2020 by Ivor Anderson