Private Richard Henry Cheers
Service #: 2669
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Richard (known as Dick) Henry Cheers was born in Kempsey on 7th May 1899, son of Walter Chapman & Isabella Euangeline (Taylor) Cheers. He was one of 10 children. Dick had two brothers who also enlisted- Norman & Stanley. Dick’s parents arrived on the Tweed in 1903. They settled on a farm at Dulguigan for 10 years, where Walter carried out mixed farming. They then moved to Dungay Creek and later to Kynnumboon. Walter spent his entire life on the land.
Dick was single farmer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 5th July 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Isabella, of Murwillumbah. His medical showed he was 21 years 4 months old, 5ft 8 ½ inches tall (1.73m), weighed 148 lbs (68kgs), with a dark complexion, grey eyes & light brown hair.
His eyesight was good. The Examining Medical Officer stated that Richard “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.” On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Richard Henry Cheers, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.”
He was Church of England and had a scar on his left knee. He was enlisted as a private into the 15th Infantry Battalion – 8th Reinforcements with service No 2669. He was transferred to the 47th Battalion on 3rd March, 1916
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. However, they were there for only a short time. The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.
On the 16th August 1915, the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Kyara. The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores
Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant.
Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP
On their arrival in Egypt, they were marched into their training camp. The battalion was based at Heliopolis Camp, just northeast of Cairo. This was one of the main AIF training camps in Egypt. Over many tough months, in the Egyptian training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began an intensive period of training in preparation for deployment to the front. These camps were shared by other Australian and New Zealand forces, creating a large and active training environment.
Daily life followed a strict military routine. Reveille was sounded around 5:30 am, followed by physical training, which included route marches and endurance work in the desert conditions. After breakfast, the men began structured morning sessions focusing on drill, bayonet practice, and rifle handling. Training resumed after lunch, often with practical field exercises such as digging trenches, constructing defences, and simulating attacks on mock enemy positions. The day ended with roll call, personal time, and lights out around 9:00 pm.
The training itself covered a wide range of military skills. Soldiers learned close-order drill, musketry (rifle shooting), bayonet fighting, and basic tactics. Musketry was particularly important: the men practised with their Lee-Enfield rifles on firing ranges, learning how to load, aim, fire rapidly, and judge distances accurately. Bayonet training was also emphasized, with troops practising thrusts, parries, and charges on straw-filled dummies to build aggression and confidence.
Physical fitness was a high priority. Route marches of 10 to 15 kilometres in full kit were a regular part of the schedule to build stamina and discipline. Troops also received instruction in field engineering—learning how to dig trenches, build parapets and revetments, and position barbed wire obstacles effectively.
Other important areas of training included basic first aid, battlefield communication (such as flag and lamp signalling), and map reading.
Sanitation and hygiene were stressed throughout the training period. Soldiers were taught how to prevent disease by maintaining clean clothing and equipment, constructing latrines, and purifying drinking water. This was crucial in the Egyptian climate, where illness could spread rapidly.
Although the training was demanding, there were occasional opportunities for leave. Many soldiers visited the bazaars, cafés, and sights of Cairo, or made trips to the pyramids near Mena. Morale was generally high, though the men understood active service was approaching.
Training would be for eight hours a day six days a week. All day long, in every valley of the Sahara for miles around the Pyramids of Giza were groups or lines of men advancing, retiring, drilling or squatted near their piled arms listening to their officer. For many of the battalions many miles of desert had to be covered in the morning and evening to and from their allotted training areas. At first, to harden the troops, they wore full kit with heavy packs. Their backs became drenched with perspiration, and the bitter desert wind blew on them as they camped for their midday meal and many deaths from pneumonia were attributed to this cause.
EMBARKED FOR GALLIPOLI NOVEMBER 1915
On 14th November 1915 Dick and the recruits embarked on the Minnewaska, headed for Gallipoli. The battalion were holding defensive positions as part of the Anzac sector during the final months of the campaign. By this time, the major offensives—such as the August attacks at Lone Pine and Hill 971—had failed, and both sides had settled into stalemate. The front lines had barely changed, and the fighting had become largely static, characterised by trench warfare, sniper fire, artillery bombardments, and harsh living conditions.
Life in the trenches at Gallipoli was harsh, exhausting, and often miserable. The soldiers of the 15th Battalion, like others on the peninsula, lived in narrow, dusty trenches cut into the rocky slopes above Anzac Cove. These trenches offered little protection from the elements or the enemy and were often cramped, infested with lice, and filled with flies attracted by unburied bodies and rotting waste.
During the dry months, the men endured intense heat, choking dust, and water shortages. In winter, the trenches became waterlogged and freezing cold, with many soldiers suffering from trench foot, frostbite, or exposure. Sleeping space was limited, and men often rested in dugouts carved into the trench walls, trying to avoid falling debris or the occasional sniper bullet.
Food was basic and monotonous—mostly bully beef, hard biscuits, and tea—and fresh water was strictly rationed. Hygiene was nearly impossible to maintain, leading to widespread disease, especially dysentery and enteric fever. Latrines were crude, and flies swarmed constantly, spreading infection.
Despite these conditions, the men showed remarkable resilience. They endured regular shelling, sniper fire, and night raids, always under the threat of death. Morale fluctuated, but camaraderie, humour, and the shared hardship of trench life helped many soldiers cope.
HOSPITALISATION GONORRHOEA NOVEMBER 1915
One of the problems with leave in Cairo was soldiers contacting gonorrhoea. Dick was admitted to the Stationary Hospital at Mudros on 9th November but was discharged to his unit on 23rd November
HOSPITALISATION PARAPHIMOSIS NOVEMBER 1915
However, he had contacted paraphimosis which is a condition where the retracted foreskin cannot be returned to its normal position over the glans penis, leading to swelling and potential complications. He was admitted to the 87th Field Ambulance for treatment. A Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
HOSPITALISATION PUO DECEMBER 1915
By 7th December he was diagnosed with PUO. Trench fever, often classed as “PUO- pyrexia of unknown origin,” is a condition when individuals suffered from a febrile illness that relapsed in five-day cycles. Human louse was rife in the trenches. It was the cause of much discomfort to the troops who found it almost impossible to get rid of them. But the body louse did cause another disease that became to be known as 'Trench Fever'.
The body louse was infected by biting a soldier suffering from Trench Fever. The infected soldier did not show any signs, or symptoms, for anything from a week to a month, when a severe head-ache developed with debilitating muscle pains; characteristically of the shins - hence the commonly used alternative name 'Shin-bone Fever'. With a duration of around five days, the fever went into remission and often reoccurred (relapsed) one or more times. There was no effective treatment for Trench Fever other than bed-rest
HOSPITALISATION RHEUMATISM DECEMBER 1915
On 18th December he diagnoses was changed to rheumatism. The symptoms would be similar and his gonorrhoea would have caused this disease. Medical understanding was limited, and treatment focused on relieving symptoms rather than curing the condition. The primary aim was to relieve pain and keep the soldier warm and dry, as these were believed to ease the symptoms. Hot water bottles, dry clothing, and wool blankets were commonly used for this purpose.
Medical staff also used hot baths or steam baths when available, which helped to soothe sore joints and relax stiff muscles. Massage and gentle movement were sometimes encouraged to improve circulation and reduce stiffness.
Pain relief was provided using medications like aspirin, which was already widely in use by the start of the war. Other painkillers, such as phenacetin or salicylates, were also administered. Soldiers might be given ointments or liniments containing ingredients like camphor or menthol, which were rubbed into the affected joints to ease discomfort.
TRANSFER TO 47TH BATTALION MARCH 1916
He was transferred to the 47th Battalion at Tel el Kebir on 3rd March 1916
PROMOTED TO CORPORAL MARCH 1916
Dick was promoted to corporal on 14th March 1916
WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE
On 2nd June 1916 left Alexandria on the Caledonia and arrived in Marseilles on 9th June 1916. He now found himself in a different type of trench warfare, fighting the Germans. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats
JUNE 1916 – QUIET SECTOR, PREPARATION
On his arrival, the 47th Battalion was based in northern France, in the Armentières sector, which was considered a relatively “quiet” part of the front. They carried out front-line trench duties, patrolling, and training in trench warfare tactics.
During this time, they gained experience in trench rotation, artillery bombardments, and small-scale raids, all in preparation for more intense fighting. The battalion was also involved in building and repairing trenches, wiring out in no-man's land, and working parties under dangerous conditions.
JULY 1916 – MOVEMENT TO THE SOMME / BATTLE OF POZIÈRES
In mid-July, the 47th Battalion was moved south to take part in the Somme offensive, which had begun on 1 July. They entered the line near Pozières, a heavily fortified village that was critical to the German defensive line. The battalion went into action during the second phase of the Battle of Pozières, beginning their attack on 7 August 1916.
7–10 AUGUST 1916 – MAIN ACTION AT POZIÈRES
The 47th was heavily engaged in intense fighting around Pozières Ridge, suffering heavy casualties from both German artillery and machine-gun fire. The battalion attacked OG1 and OG2, heavily defended German trenches north-east of Pozières.
Conditions were horrific—shellfire was constant, trenches were obliterated, and soldiers faced confusion, exhaustion, and brutal hand-to-hand combat. They had suffered severe losses, including many officers and NCOs
WOUNDED IN ACTION
One of the casualties of this battle was Dick, who was wounded in actin on 10th August with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
CASUALTY CLEARING STATION
He was first admitted to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station on 11th August. A Clearing Station was a key part of the military medical evacuation chain used by soldiers. It was set up a few miles behind the front lines, often near railways or roads and positioned far enough to be relatively safe from artillery, but close enough for rapid access
The were staffed by:
· Army doctors and surgeons
· Nurses (including Australian Army Nursing Service nurses)
· Orderlies and stretcher bearers
Soldiers were often treated here and the sent to hospitals for long term care
EVACUATED TO ENGLAND AUGUST 1916
He left Rouen for England on 13th August and was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital in Wandsworth on 14th August 1916.
CONVALESCENT PERHAM DOWNS
Dick was moved to the command depot at Perham Downs on 3rd October 1916. A Command Depot was a military rehabilitation and re-training centre for soldiers who were no longer sick or wounded enough to stay in hospital, but not yet fit enough to return to active duty.
FURLOUGH OCTOBER 1916
Dick was granted furlough from 12th October to 28th October then returned to the command depot. He would convalesce but continue with drilling & training as the technology and techniques were rapidly changing and soldiers had to be up to date when they were ready to rejoin their units.
PLACED ON SUPERNUMERARY LIST NOVEMBER 1916
On 10TH November 1916 Dick was placed on the supernumerary list of NCOs (non commissioned officers) owing to his absent from his unit for more than 3 months. This meant he retained his rank, but he was not included in the official establishment of NCOs currently serving with the unit.
HOSPITALISED VENEREAL DISEASE DECEMBER 1916
On 1st December 1916 Dick was admitted to the Military Hospital at Parkhouse with Venereal disease. Treatment for VD was a punishment in its own right. Special hospitals for VD patients were set up and often regarded as deterrent. Patients would be treated with Salvarsan and mercury which offered uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects such as jaundice and convulsions. Other treatments included irrigation, which was painful and undignified resulting in many men to opt for chemical treatment instead. These long and uncomfortable stays in VD hospitals often averaged between 50 and 60 days, with most patients recovering and returning to the front. Dick was discharged after 20 days and returned to Perham Downs
DISCIPLINED JANUARY 1917
Dick was declared an illegal absentee while at Perham Downs and was struck off strength- refer court martial April 1917
HOSPITALISED VENERAL DISEASE MARCH 1917
On 11th March 1917 Dick was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford to be treated for venereal disease. Dick was discharged in 26 days.
MARCHED INTO COMMAND POST AGAIN
Dick returned to Perham Downs on 10th April to continue his training.
COURT MARTIAL APRIL 1917
A court martial was held on 19TH April. Dick had been absent from 22nd February until he was apprehended on 7th March at Chelsea. He pleased guilty and Dick was reverted to private and forfeited 119 day’s pay (50 pounds, 11shilling & six pence). He was in custody awaiting trial in 43 days
HOSPITALISED VENERAL DISEASE APRIL 1917
On 21st April was admitted to Bulford again for venereal disease. Total period 21 days
COMMAND POST
He was discharged 12TH May 1917 and marched into Perham Downs again.
CLASSIFIED PB
By June 1917 Dick had been classified PB which stood for "Permanent Base". He remained in the army, but was removed from combat duties. He would have been assigned to clerical work, storekeeping, guard duties, cooking, training recruits, or labour units. His medical report on 1st August 1917 stated “He was in the front line when he was struck by a piece of shell on the left shoulder.” He was found to be permanently unfit for service
GOING HOME AUGUST 1917
Dick returned to Australia in August 1917, per A24 the Benalla, because of his gunshot wound and was classified for home service which meant serving within Australia in roles that supported the war effort but did not involve front-line fighting. He was discharged 28th November 1917
PENSION
Dick received a pension of 22/6 per fortnight from 29th November 1917
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service Dick was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the
Dungay Public School First World War Honor Roll
HOME LIFE
According to his Second World War details he was married to Lilian. He enlisted on 19th January 1942 at Byron Bay and was a Corporal in the 1 BN VDC (8 CRCP) and was discharged 17th October 1943
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
Dungay Public School First World War Honor Roll
Buried Location
We do not know the burial location of this individual
