Cherry, Charles James
Regimental Sergeant Major
No. 5881, 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment
Died of disease on Wednesday 20 October 1915 (aged 37)
Buried:
Bangalore (Hosur Road) Cemetery, India (Plot 7 Row B1 Grave 59)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Madras 1914-1918 War Memorial, Chennai, India (Face 21)
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded Charles James Cherry was born in Newtownards and he was the youngest son of Sergeant Robert Cherry who for many years was on the Permanent Staff of the Royal North Downs at Newtownards.
Charles James Cherry was born on 3 February 1878 in South Street, Newtownards and he was a son of Robert and Sarah Cherry (nee Robinson) who were married on 5 September 1859 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church. Robert Cherry (aged 20) from Greenwell Street, Newtownards was a Sergeant of Militia, and he was a son of John Cherry, a weaver. Sarah Robinson (aged 17) from Greenwell Street, Newtownards was a daughter of James Robinson, a baker.
Robert and Sarah Cherry (nee Robinson) had at least nine children:
David (born 18 May 1864 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
William Thomas (born 23 September 1866 in Mary Street, Newtownards)
Sarah (born 18 September 1868 in Mary Street, Newtownards)
Sarah (born 24 October 1870 in Frederick Street, Newtownards)
Mary (born 9 November 1871 in Frederick Street, Newtownards)
Eliza (born 17 March 1874 in Frederick Street, Newtownards)
Robert (born 11 May 1875 in Frederick Street, Newtownards)
Charles James (born 3 February 1878 in South Street, Newtownards)
Samuel (born 6 August 1880 in South Street, Newtownards; died of meningitis 24 July 1887 in South Street, Newtownards)
Their father Robert died on 10 April 1893 (aged 54).
Charles James Cherry enlisted in Belfast and he served in India with the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment. In 1901 his rank was Corporal. It was in India that Regimental Sergeant Major Charles James Cherry died of haemopericardium on 20 October 1915. His death was reported in the 20 November 1915 edition of the Newtownards Chronicle under the headline Local Soldier’s Death in India. He was buried the same day.
In the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects, it is recorded that his widow’s name was Wilhelmina.
The marriage between Charles James Cherry and Wilhelmina Logan was registered in Singapore in 1904, and they had four children:
Charles James (born 26 December 1904 in India; baptised 27 September 1906 in Trimulgherry, Madras, India)
Esther Patricia (born 17 March 1907)
Alexander (born 15 December 1910)
Wilson (born 11 July 1912 in Springfield Avenue, Bangor; his father was an Instructor with the India Volunteers, and he signed the Ulster Covenant)
Wilhelmina Cherry placed a death notice in the 2 November 1915 edition of the Belfast News-Letter:
CHERRY: October 20 at Bengalore, India, of heart disease. Sergeant Major Charles James Cherry, Bengalore Rifles, beloved husband of Wilhelmina Cherry, and youngest son of the late Robert Cherry, Drill Instructor, Newtownards.
Charles James Cherry was, in fact, the youngest surviving son.