The First Kangaroo: Honouring Frank Cheadle on Remembrance Day

At one point in their lives there was no difference between men like Frank Cheadle, Johnno Stuntz, George Duffin, Wiiliam 'Tumbler' Thomas and today’s NRL stars.

They were fit, young men in their prime and playing a game they loved. They were first-graders or representative stars adored by the sporting public before they answered the call of their country.

They swapped football boots for army issues, balls for Lee-Enfield rifles and venues like the SCG and North Sydney Oval were replaced by grotesque theatres of war like Gallipoli and the Somme, the deserts of North Africa and the jungles of New Guinea.

So many good rugby league men joined all branches of the war effort; they were pilots and infantrymen, doctors and commandos and every one of them died in the service of their country.

They are the reason we observe Anzac Day and Remembrance Day; to recognise the extraordinary sacrifices and modest gallantry of men such as these and to remember the part they played in securing the freedom and the lifestyle that we can sometimes take for granted. Lest We Forget. 

The First Kangaroo

Frank Cheadle

Of the 34 players who toured with the First Kangaroos of 1908-09, Cheadle was one of only six who returned as a member of the Australian Imperial Forces in World War I.

The Newtown centre, acclaimed for his sidestepping ability and excellent defence, along with his Newcastle touring mate, Pat ‘Nimmo’ Walsh shared the distinction of being the only original Kangaroos to see action at Gallipoli.

Cheadle, 29 years old when he landed on the peninsula in July 1915, had been forced to retire as a footballer in 1910 and gave up his job as a furniture salesman when he enlisted in January, 1915.

He arrived at Gallipoli as a member of the 17th Battalion of Australia’s 2nd Division.

The hard-pressed 1st Division, which had been entrenched in the hills overlooking Anzac Cove since the landing in April, welcomed Cheadle and his fellow soldiers warmly.

According to his service record, Cheadle was transferred to the 18th Battalion by October and promoted to Lieutenant. He survived the perilous conditions until December when the evacuation took place and within weeks his Battalion had regrouped in Egypt, where they awaited orders to be reassigned to the fighting front in northern France.

The 18th reached France in March, 1916 and only two months later, Cheadle was shot through the head and killed.

The Australian war historian Charles Bean recorded that “Lieutenant Cheadle of the 18th Battalion, when boldly scouting with the moon nearing the full, was seen by the enemy, fired on, and fatally wounded as the patrol withdrew over the parapet.”

Writing in the Sydney Sportsman when news of his death was announced ‘Scrum’ expressed the sentiment of the sporting public.

“Flags were flown at half-mast from all the grounds owing to the death of Lieutenant Frank Cheadle, who was killed in action on the 12th instant in France.

Never since the bad news came through about poor old Ted Larkin have I seen such genuine sorrow and sympathy shown amongst a football crowd.

"Although Frank had not played football for some years, he always kept in touch with the players before leaving for the war about 15 months ago.

"All those who knew him or have had the pleasure of watching his marvellous side-stepping were unanimous of genuine regret at the passing away of the most popular footballer the League movement has produced.

“Frank was one of the pioneers of the game and came over at the inception. He toured England with the Kangaroos, and on his return captained Newtown team with great success until forced to retire through knee injuries.

“Frank signed on for the war as a private, but his great personality, coupled with brains, soon got him out of the ranks, and in a few months he was Sergeant-major, and obtained his lieutenancy in Egypt.

"It was indeed cruel after going through all the hardships of trench life in Gallipoli for many months and with all the chances of gaining further honours in France, for him to go out so early on his arrival in the new country. It was only last week I received a card from him written on a train in France, saying he had just arrived.”

Cheadle was buried in a churchyard cemetery at Erquinghem-Lys, just to the west of the town of Armentieres.

• David Middleton is the author of the official annual of the NRL.