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Robert Cheetham

Wounded in Action – Pieters Hill – 22 February 1900

Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, Royal Lancaster Regiment
Company Sergeant Major, 4th Battalion, Railway Pioneer Regiment – Anglo Boer War
Regimental Sergeant Major, 16th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
Lieutenant & Quartermaster, Manchester Regiment – WWI

- Queens South Africa Medal (Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek) to 3748 SEJT R. CHEETHAM, R. LANC: REGT
- Kings South Africa Medal (South Africa 1901 & 1902) to 3748 SERJT: R. CHEETHAM. R: LANC: REGT
- 1914-15 Star to 6224 S.MJR. R. CHEETHAM. MANCH.R.
- British War Medal to Q.M. & LIEUT. R. CHEETHAM.
- Victory Medal to Q.M. & LIEUT. R. CHEETHAM.
- Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal EVIIR to 3748 C.SJT: R. CHEETHAM. R.LANC: REGT

Robert Cheetham was born in Salford, Lancashire in late 1874, the son of Joseph Cheetham, a Drayman by trade, and his wife Isabella, born Chadwick. He was baptised in the Parish Church of St Philip in Salford on 6 September 1874.

Seven years later, at the time of the 1881 England census, Robert was at home in 64 Regent Street, Salford along with siblings Clara (9), Margaret (5), Isabella (3) and Martha (12 months). His uncle, Tom Cheetham (40) was boarding with the family.


Cheetham in later life

At the time of the 1891 England census the family had moved up (or down) the road and were living at 76 Regent Street. Almost everyone in the household was gainfully employed with Mr Cheetham a Carter, Mrs Cheetham a Calico Spinner and sisters Clara and Margaret both Calico Weavers. Only 14 year old Robert broke the “calico” mould and was a Clerk by occupation. There had been additions to the ranks with the births of Joseph (8), Isabella – a different one to the previous census (6), Thomas (4) and another Martha (2)

With so much activity in a very full Victorian working class household it was no wonder that Robert decided to “spread his wings” and take the Queen’s Shilling. This he did on 7 November 1892 when, aged 18 years and 9 months, he completed the attestation papers for service with the Royal Lancaster Regiment at Lancaster. Confirming that he was a Clerk by occupation he added that he was a serving member of the 4th Battalion Royal Lancaster Regiment, a Militia outfit, and that he was still living at home. A diminutive 5 feet 4 inches in height he weighed a slender 114 lbs and had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. By way of distinctive marks about his person he had a scar under his left eye and scars in each groin.

The Doctor having passed him Fit for Service, he was assigned no. 3748 and the rank of Private. Initially posted to the Depot, he joined the 1st Battalion on 8 January 1893 and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 3 March 1894.

Just prior to this, on 22 March 1893, he was the subject of a Court of Inquiry. Assembled at Aldershot for investigating the circumstances under which “No.3748 Pte. R Cheetham/Lancs Regt. received certain injury.” In what was a perfunctory investigation it was determined that Cheetham’s injury was not serious, was received accidentally and was not likely to interfere with his future efficiency as a soldier.

Cheetham’s statement (evidence) read thus: “On the 20th February 1893 while working with the Ash Range fatigue the man working behind me accidentally struck me on the hand with his pick as I was drawing my shovel back. I was taken to the 3rd Stationary Hospital.”

Promotion to Corporal came on 15 February 1895, followed by appointment to the rank of Lance Sergeant on 8 April 1897. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion on 20 November 1897 and availed himself of the opportunity to extend his service with the Colours on 29 January 1898. Around this time, like many soldiers before him, Cheetham succumbed to the temptations of the flesh and was treated for Gonorrhoea on 10 January 1898. All of the aforementioned service was on home soil and Cheetham must have been wondering when, if ever, he would see a posting overseas and any action to boot.

He didn’t have very long to wait. Simmering tensions between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal in far-away South Africa spilled over into open warfare on 11 October 1899 and Cheetham and his Battalion were instructed to set sail for the theatre of war on 2 December 1899. Recently promoted to full Sergeant, Cheetham and his regiment sailed on the Dilwara on 2nd December 1899 and arrived at Cape Town on 25th December. Along with the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, the 1st South Lancashire Regiment, and the 1st York and Lancaster Regiment, they formed the 11th Brigade under Major General Woodgate, and were part of the Vth Division under Sir Charles Warren.

Two battalions of the 10th Brigade, the 2nd Royal Warwicks and the 1st Yorkshire Regiment, were left in Cape Colony, and the remainder of the division disembarked at Durban in order to take part in the relief of Ladysmith. At the time of their arrival the operations were at a standstill, Colenso having been fought on 15th December, and General Buller seemingly powerless to seize the initiative until reinforcements arrived.

Sir Charles Warren's division was taken to Frere as the battalions arrived, and on 10th January 1900 he set out from Frere to Springfield. In the actions about Venter's Spruit on the 19th, 20th, and 21st January the 11th Brigade was on the British right. On those dates the King's Own had no very heavy fighting, although other battalions of the brigade had serious casualties. On the 20th, when the fighting was very severe on the right centre, the brigade headquarters, with the 2nd King's Own and the 1st South Lancashire Regiment, were with the artillery, six batteries, which were massed on or about Three-Tree Hill, south-west of Spion Kop.

Roughly the Boer position was two sides of a square: one side Brakfontein and Vaal Krantz, facing southeast towards Potgieter's Drift and Spearman's Hill, still held by General Lyttelton; the other side facing south-west towards Warren's lines. Spion Kop, a high hill, lay at the angle of the two sides.

On the 22nd it was decided that Spion Kop must be taken, this was to be the first decisive action in which the Royal Lancs would be involved. Next day it was reconnoitred, but chiefly on the south-east side, that being the portion of the hill which could not be seen from the other Boer positions. At 7 pm General Woodgate decided to assault from the south - west face, and Colonel Thorneycroft, of Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, had barely time to ride out and note some landmarks in the dusk.

About 10.30 pm General Woodgate marched from the rendezvous, near Warren's chief camp. His force was the 2nd Royal Lancaster, six companies of the Lancashire Fusiliers, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, 180 men and 18 officers, and a half-company Royal Engineers, supported by two companies Connaught Rangers and the newly arrived Imperial Light Infantry, a Natal raised corps. When the troops, now extended in line, were near the crest they were challenged. As arranged before hand, they at once lay down and the Boers fired. When Colonel Thorneycroft thought that the magazines of the Boer rifles had been emptied he gave the command to charge. This was done, and about 4 am the crest was carried. The Boers fled. About ten men were wounded up to this time.

General Woodgate ordered a trench and breastworks to be made. The darkness and a heavy mist made it impossible "to get the exact crest for a good field of fire". The rocky ground and a want of proper tools added to the difficulties; however, a shallow trench about 200 yards long was dug and occupied by the Royal Lancaster, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, and the Lancashire Fusiliers. There was some intermittent rifle - firing through the mist, and before it lifted, men who had been pushed forward found that the trench did not command the ascent, there being much dead ground not 200 yards away.

At about 8 am the mist cleared, and the enemy then commenced to pour in that awful shell and rifle fire which was to last throughout the whole day. It was now seen that Spion Kop was not the commanding feature it was thought to be, but that it was itself commanded by several mountains which had been intrenched and fortified by the enemy. The trench which had been made by General Woodgate's men was found to be of little use, and troops had to be taken forward by rushes, and lying down near the edge of the plateau, they had there to use what cover they could find.

Many gallant attempts were made to hold patches of rocks. Often all the officers and men in these advanced positions were killed or wounded. This happened over and over again throughout the day. Between 8.30 and 9 am General Woodgate was mortally wounded. Lieutenant Blake Knox states that after receiving his wound the general ordered a signal message to be sent to Sir Charles Warren to the effect, "We are between a terrible cross - fire and can barely hold our own. Water is badly needed. Help us". This message may never have been received and no help was forthcoming to men lying under murderous fire under the blazing sun with no protection to speak of.

Throughout the whole day the men on the left held their advanced line, but on the right and in the centre not only was the remnant of the advanced line driven in, but that part of the trench was for a time vacated. During the afternoon reinforcements arrived, first the Infantry, and the 2nd Scottish Rifles, — the latter coming from Potgieter's and ascending the southern slope.

The situation was untenable and the men, having waited until dark, began to stream down the hill back to the safety of their lines. Buller’s second attempt to relieve Ladysmith had died on the alter of incorrect intelligence and assumption.

The Royal Lancasters lost 3 officers and at least 34 men killed, 4 officers and over 100 men wounded, 1 officer and about 50 men missing. In his despatch of 30th January 1900 Sir Redvers Buller "bears testimony to the gallant and admirable behaviour of the troops", and says, "the Royal Lancasters fought gallantly".

After retiring across the Tugela to Spearman's Camp General Buller gave his men a few days' rest before making his next (third) attempt at Vaal Krantz. On the 5th February that attempt was begun. It will be remembered that the Lancashire Brigade, now under General Wynne, demonstrated against the Boer left at Brakfontein, while the real attack was developed opposite Vaal Krantz by General Lyttelton. The Lancashire Brigade did their part very well. Their losses were not heavy.



The 2nd Royal Lancaster and South Lancashire Regiment took part in the fighting between 13th and 27th February (known as the Battle of Pieter’s Hill), the other two battalions being left to guard the bridge at Springfield and other points. On the 22nd General Wynne, whose brigade for the time being was the 2nd Royal Lancaster, 1st South Lancashire, and the Rifle Reserve Battalion, endeavoured to capture hills east of Grobbelaar’s and north of Onderbrook Spruit. In this the brigade had very severe fighting, the South Lancashire Regiment being the first line.

It was during this third attempt to dislodge the Boers and enter Ladysmith that Cheetham was Severely Wounded in Action at Pieter’s Hill. His papers state that he received a Gunshot Wound to his Left Shoulder and Right Wrist (wounded severely) on 22 February 1900. This date is used in the Morning Post of 6 March 1900 Casualty List and in the Manchester Courier list published on 10 March 1900 wherein Cheetham’s address is provided as the Brunswick Hotel, Salford. It is only in the Natal Field Force Casualty Roll that the casualty date of 27 February is used.

Ladysmith was relieved eight days later, on 1 March 1900 after a final assault on the 27th February where the Royal Lancaster’s along with the West Yorks, under Colonel Kitchener, took part in the assault on the works between Railway Hill and Terrace Hill, and on the latter hill itself – although it is doubtful that Cheetham, so recently wounded, would have taken part in this attack.


The Royal Lancasters at Pieters Hill

Between 13th and 27th February the Royal Lancaster had lost 2 officers and 28 men killed, and 8 officers and 145 men wounded.

What followed was a period of rest and recuperation – both for the beleaguered garrison in Ladysmith and those who had fought so hard to relieve them. Men were sent down towards Pietermaritzburg and away from any potential Boer presence for this purpose and Cheetham was no different.

Finding himself at Mooi River he was found guilty on 19 May 1900 of being “Drunk on returning to camp at about 11 p.m.” He was Severely Reprimanded for this indiscretion although there is an entry under the Remarks Column which states that, “These entries do not count as Regimental Entries.”

Back in the fighting line, Cheetham proceeded with his regiment to assist Buller in driving the Boers out of Natal. On 11th December 1900 the enemy fiercely attacked Vryheid, but were driven off with heavy loss. The garrison was composed of the 2nd Royal Lancaster and 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers Mounted Infantry. Colonel Gawne and another officer and 3 men were killed and 14 wounded.

As the war dragged on, seemingly without an end in sight, the 2nd Royal Lancasters were used for guard and patrol duty in the Eastern Transvaal. Cheetham was, however, one of those earmarked for secondment to a Colonial outfit where, for a time, his undoubted experience and expertise could be used to the full. On 18 January 1901 he was taken on the strength of the 4th Battalion, Railway Pioneer Regiment where he served as a Company Sergeant Major and Instructor.

After three years and 129 days under the African sun Cheetham was posted home on 9 April 1903. Losing almost no time, he wed Alice Windridge in Whittington, Staffordshire on 8 December of that year and the couple settled down to a blissful period only interrupted, after five years home service, with a posting to India on 2 February 1909. This deployment lasted for two years and 43 days before he was posted back to England. At the time of the 1911 England census he, along with his wife and son, Kenneth, was a Visitor in the home of his mother-in-law at Whittington near Lichfield. He was described as being a 36 year old soldier with the rank of Colour Sergeant. This is confirmed in the same census in respect of the 4th Battalion, Royal Lancs on whose census return for Jersey, he is recorded as being “Absent in England.”



Further service followed until his contractual obligation to the Army was concluded on 3 July 1914. He had served with distinction for 21 years 239 days and had, deservedly, been awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in 1911, along with a £5 gratuity which would have come in handy.

Just prior to his demobilisation Cheetham had been appointed Acting Sergeant Major in the 4th (Militia) Battalion of the Royal Lancaster’s. Temporarily out of uniform for the first time in over 21 years, he did not have long to wait before his next instalment of active service was dished up. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany’s belligerence and desire for territorial expansion led to the outbreak of the Great War on 4 August 1914.

In June 1914 he had already received a memorandum from the Officer Commanding the 4th Battalion which read thus:-

“I hereby certify that No. 3748 Colour Sergt. (A.S.M.) R. Cheetham has performed the duties of Acting Sergeant Major in the above Battalion from the 1st July 1913 to 3rd July 1914. Also that he drew the additional pay attaching to the appointment during the above period.”

At Manchester on 12 September 1914, just weeks after war had commenced, Cheetham completed the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) One Year Service Attestation forms. Now 40 years old and no longer in the first flush of youth he confirmed that he was an Army Pensioner. He was now 5 feet 5 inches in height and weighed 135 lbs. His wounds received during the Boer War were evident with a “Bullet wound left shoulder” added to the description of distinctive marks to be found on his person.


A Coy, Platoon 1, 16th Bn Manchester Regiment - Cheetham's Platoon

Having been found fit by the Doctor, Cheetham commenced service with No. 6224 and was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of the 16th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. He was deployed to France on 8 November 1915 but not before he very nearly blotted his otherwise exemplary copybook. On 31 May 1915 he was Court Martialled at Belton Park and charged with contravening Section 40 – a catch-all for someone guilty of any act, conduct, disorder or neglect to the prejudice of good order and military discipline. Fortunately he was found Not Guilty.

Returning from the Western Front, he was taken on strength of the regimental depot on 10 October 1916 before being posted to 69th Training Reserve Battalion on 19 November 1916.

The 13th December 1917 saw him posted to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Manchester Regiment from where he was dispatched to the Anti Gas School, situated at Otley, on 4 May 1918. On 1 June 1918 he was posted to the Army Service Corps training establishment before being commissioned a Quartermaster & Lieutenant with the Manchester Regiment on 15 October 1918.

Having survived the war Cheetham was finally discharged from any further military obligation.

According to the 1921 England census he was 46 years old and living with his wife and only child at 10 Marley Road, Levenshulme, Manchester. He was employed as a Monitor at the King’s Lancashire Convalescent Hospital in Squires Gate, Blackpool. The following year, 1922, he joined the Military Jubilee Lodge, Dover, of the Free Masons.

Robert Cheetham passed away from Carcinoma of the Stomach on 27 June 1935 at 614 Lytham Road, Blackpool. He was 61 years old and an Electric Meter Inspector. His wife, Alice was still living at that address at the time the 1939 Register was compiled.

Acknowledgments:
- Newspapers credited in the article
- Ancestry, Find My Past for census data, service papers and medal rolls
- Members of the Great War Forum for input on Court Martial
- Stirlings book on regiments in the Anglo Boer War
- Anglo Boer War Forum for Railway Pioneer Regiment nominal roll
- Battle Maps by John Fawkes