Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
ff
17434   Rifleman Francis Cheevers
Save as PDF
Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 01/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 27/04/1895
Died: 01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 21
Summary      
Francis Cheevers was a son of John and Sarah Cheevers of Cookstown. The family lived for a time in Killyleagh, County Down, and Francis enlisted in Downpatrick, joining the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. The 13th Battalion was raised from the ranks of the County Down Volunteers in September 1914, and after training at Clandeboye and Seaford, landed at Boulogne in October 1915. Preparations were under way for the Somme Offensive. He was killed as he attempted to cross ‘No Man’s Land’ on the morning of 1st July 1916, he has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 15A-15B on the Thiepval Memorial.
Read more on Rifleman Francis Cheevers
 Francis Cheevers
Cemetery Details
Grave
Cemetery: Thiepval Memorial
  Thiepval, Somme, 
Grave Ref: Panel 15A-15B
CWGC Casualty 1543386
Summary      
The Thiepval Memorial will be found on the D73, next to the village of Thiepval, off the main Bapaume to Albert road (D929). Each year a major ceremony is held at the memorial on 1 July.
Local Memorial Details

No Memorial Name Townland
1 Cookstown Cenotaph WWI - East Panel 1927 Cookstown
2 St Luran's Church, Church Street Cookstown
3 Cookstown Cenotaph WWI - East Panel 2018 Cookstown
Local Institute / Local Book Details

No Name Page
1 Cookstown War Dead Book WW1 130
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Cheevers family 1901 census lists Francis as age 6 at house 35 in Ballygally, Inch, Down
2 1911 Census lists Cheevers family 1911 census lists Frank as age 16 at house 21 in Frederick Street Killyleagh, Down
3 Forum discussion (GWF) Details of Frank Cheevers
4 National Archives UK Medal card can be purchased here - Fracis
5 WikiMedia Photo of Killyleagh War Memorial lists Frank Cheevers
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023