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Hi, Many thanks for all your replies ... this is still quite a puzzle.

Here is the article regarding the Meriden War Memorial, and the request for help: Select Summer 2008, then scroll to page 13
http://www.meridenmag.co.uk/html/backissues.html

Since F Cheadles death does not appear in the GRO indexes, both home and overseas, I too thought perhaps he was a native of Meriden, but was no longer a resident there or indeed even a resident in the UK. I have checked the Australian, Canadian and US records that are available on ancestry.com, but again F Cheadle has not been found.

Lin

Please see my message sent via GR email. I am off to bed soon and although I have some useful information for you, I can't stay on line.

Pam

Oh dear, I have become really engrossed in this!

It bothers me that I've come across many references (Google) to a place called Meriden in Connecticut, US, where they have a WWII memorial inscribed with people's names. It was in the news because some names were mis-spelt, and in one instance a name was included in error. There is also a WWII memorial hospital in the same town.

Are we absolutely sure that the original request for the info on F. Cheadle is related to the UK Meriden memorial? The Cyclists' memorial doesn't appear to have a list of names, and unless there is a separate memorial - e.g. in a churchyard - it makes me wonder whether someone on a different message board has gone off on the wrong tack.
This might explain the surprising lack of names 'Cheadle' in the UK Midlands.
Just trying to think out of the box!!
Sue

A couple more thoughts about F. Cheadle. Apologies if you already know this, but Meriden is famous for having the memorial to all the Cyclists who died in the first and second World Wars. Is this the memorial that bears Cheadle's name? If so, it must be a significant clue.

The other thing about Meriden is that it was the home of the Triumph motor cycles production plant that was bombed by the Luftwaffe in WWII. Just wondering whether anyone connected to that might have been commemorated on the memorial too. Less likely, but worth considering.
Sue

Linda, I checked the Royal Australian Navy records and came up with 3 Cheadle names. One is Thomas Albert who was born in Wolverhampton England 1904. If you would like to look google World War 2 nominal roll Australia. Then select the RAN option. As you have drawn a blank with searches over there I wondered if he may have been a local boy who enlisted in another country and has been put on the memorial back home. His date of discharge is 5 Dec 1942. I had no idea of the distance between Wolverhampton and Solihull, so I google mapped it. Whooo hooo it's only 30 miles. It may not be a match but itat least you will have more Cheadles. Val

Sue, Many thanks for your time and help it is very much appreciated. Also, I extend my thanks to your colleague too. I will check with Chatham to see if they can help.
There is a Frank Cheadle, Acting Bombardier listed in the WW1 casualty list on the CWGC, and it may well be the same man who is listed on the Meriden War memorial, however, if this is the case, he has been listed in the WW2 section!
I think perhaps a search of the local newspaper archives might help, as I have found that some snippets/obituaries were often included in the newspaper article when the newspaper covered the story of the ceremonial unvailing of the monument. I am sure that the WW2 listings and unvailing would have been mentioned in the local newspaper.

Thanks everyone for your help, it has been much appreciated.
Lin.

Hi Linda et al,

I made some enquiries at HMS Ganges museum today.

Unfortunately no records were kept of the many thousands of boy seamen who passed through the training establishment during its 100+ years' history (this was normal Navy practice, because records were only kept per ship).

However, my colleague was very helpful in that he confirmed that 'AB' is the correct abbreviation for 'Able Seaman', and that 'A/B' is far more likely to denote the rank of a soldier in the Army. He agreed it could be 'Acting' or 'Assistant' Bombardier, there are several possibilities here.

I hope this is helpful in some way - at least perhaps it has eliminated the Navy theory. Although it might be worth contacting the Royal Naval museum at Chatham, where individuals' service records might be available.

Sue

On other websites he has put A/B F CHEADLE

But I have asked & you would not put A/B for ABLE SEAMAN just AB

I wonder if the WW1 A/B FRANK CHEADLE was left off &
they added him later ???

( Acting Bombardier )

I am trying to find a picture of the memorial

Yes, I looked up the surname too, it's not so common in the West Midlands area.

I am quite puzzled regards AB F Cheadle...and would very much like to know more about him.

Sorry no ...............just googling

It is a mystery

I never realised that CHEADLE is such an uncommon surname

in 2000 there were only 8 listed on the UK electoral roll

FAIRTHORN, Yes, that appears to be him. Do you know him?

FAIRTHORN, Thanks for that. He is quite sure that F Cheadle served during WW2. I thought along the same lines as you, and I have checked all the listing for F Cheadle on the CWGC site, but I've had no luck.
I know the chap has posted on a few forums, he is desperate for some help with this .... and in my opinion he seems quite new to this type of research.

A/B F Cheadle

On another website they suggested Acting Bombardier ??

& your friend is sure it is WW2 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

A lot of the memorials combine BOTH the world wars


IS THIS YOUR FRIEND ?

If you have further information on the officers and men commemorated on
the Meriden War Memorial, please contact either John Moorhouse or Paul &
Melanie Lee via the Meriden Mag. John would also like to say a big thank
you to all who attended the Remembrance Service back in November.

Sue, You're a star! Thanks very much.

You've all been so kind and helpful. Thank you. It would be nice to find out who AB F Cheadle was, and what happened to him.

Elizabeth, Yes, I've searched Genes and have written to three who may possibly be related to F Cheadle. Awaiting a reply.

FAIRTHORN, I haven't seen the war memorial myself, the information I have comes from a nice man who is researching the memorial, and he asked for help. I don't live in the area. I have emailed him to ask whether F Cheadle is listed alphabetically.

Sue, Thanks very much for the birth details, at least that's something to work on.

Linda,

Not sure if this is any help, but there is a Frank Cheadle b. Q Dec. 1919, Birmingham, mother's maiden name Gumble.

Another one Francis R Cheadle, b. Q Mar 1920, Alcester, mother's maiden name Perkins.

By the way, I work in HMS Ganges museum (RN training establishment), I will check records for trainee by name of F. Cheadle tomorrow.

Sue

Linda

Is he there alphabetical with the others OR added on ??

If he is added on, he may have died of wounds after the war

Have you done a search to see if anyone is looking for the name Cheadle in the Solihull area, perhaps they could help. If he served in WW2, I would think his year of birth would be between about l905 and 1926.
Liz

Thank you so very much for the look up Keith. Now I am stumped!

I am wondering whether the information recorded on the memorial is wrong?
Or, was he discharged from the Royal Navy prior to his death?

Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated.

Lin

Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for your reply.

I know that it was the local community who were responsible for the War memorials, and they were also responsible for the inclusion of names on the memorials. The problem is, there is no record of who submitted the details of AB F. Cheadle. However, he must have been a local man for the people of the community to list him on the memorial.