Pte 64787 Edgar Cheater

• Age: 28
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 21st August 1918
• Commemorated at: Warry Copse Cem Courcelles-le-compte
  Panel Ref: A.26

Edgar Cheater was born on 04th April 1890 in Seaforth, Liverpool and was the son of Robert Rose Cheater and his wife Margaret (née Otty) who were married in 1878 at St Mary's Church, Walton. Edgar was baptised on 11th May 1890 at St. Thomas' Church in Seaforth. His father is shown as a shoemaker and the family address is 2 Plum Street.  

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at Plum Street, Edgar is one year old and is living with his parents and four siblings. His father is shown as a shoemaker born in Ireland in 1857 whilst his mother was born in Liverpool in 1861. His siblings are listed as William b. 1880, Herbert b.1882, Margaret b.1886 and Ernest b.1889.

By 1901 the family are shown as living at 5 Plum Street. Both parents are in the household, his father, is aged 44, a shoemaker, his mother is aged 40, Edgar is 10 years of age and shares the home with five siblings and one cousin. His siblings are listed as; Herbert, Margaret and Ernest as well as Miriam born in 1895 and Jessie born in 1900. His cousin is 10 year old Emily Otty.    
 
His father died, aged 57, in the September quarter of 1914. 

His mother remarried on the 04th November 1916 to Nathan Thomas Parker at St Thomas' Church, Seaforth. Bachelor Thomas was a 44 year old dock labourer of 112 South Road, father, John, is deceased, whilst widow Margaret was aged 55 same address, father, James, deceased.  

Edgar married Hannah Jones on 22nd March 1911 at St Thomas' Church, Seaforth, the same church in which he had been baptised. Their first child Willam Arnall was born in the December quarter of 1911 and a second child Margaret Elsie was born in the September quarter of 1914. 

On 1911 Census Hannah Cheater, aged 20, is married and living with her parents so we assume that Edgar must be at sea. 

His parents were living at 13 Eaton Avenue, Litherland. His father, Robert, is aged 54, a bootmaker b.Birr, King’s Co., Ireland, his mother Margaret is aged 51(married 33 years, 10 children, 8 still alive), children born Seaforth, William 31 a labourer, Herbert 29 a butcher, Miriam 17, Jessie 11, and Leslie 9. 

Edgar is featured as a waiter on the Union Castle Mail Steamship; Braemar Castle sailing from Southampton to South Africa in 1912.

His father died, aged 57, in the September quarter of 1914.

His mother remarried in 1916 to Nathan Thomas Parker at St Thomas' Church, Seaforth.     

Edgar enlisted in Seaforth joining as Rifleman 64847 with the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He was admitted to 1/CCS on 20th March 1918, then transferred to the 2nd Australian Hospital on 21st March 1918. He was subsequently returned to England with trench fever on 25th March 1918. He was serving  with the 18^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 64787 when he was killed in action on the 21st August 1918, aged 28, during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).

He now lies in Warry Copse Cemetery, Courcelles-le-Compte France.

Warry Copse Cemetery was made by the 3rd Division Burial Officer at the end of the month. The cemetery contains 40 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of which are unidentified.

Edgar's death was featured in the local press:

Bootle Times, 27th September 1918 

CHEATER - August 21st 1918, killed in action, aged 28 years, Edgar, K.L.R., the dearly loved husband of Hannah (nee Jones) and fourth son of Margaret and the late Robert Cheater of Seaforth. Deeply regretted - 15 Carolina Street, Bootle.

Evening Express, 5th October 1918 

BOOTLE SOLDIERS FATE

Pte Edgar Cheater, K.L.R., who was killed in action on Aug 21, aged 28 years, leaves a widow and two children who reside at 15 Carolina Street, Bootle. Before joining up in 1917 he was a cook in the White Star Line, and was known to his shipmates as William Otty. He was the fourth son of Margaret and the late Robert Cheater of Seaforth.

CWGC show Edgar as serving with the 13th Battalion of K.L.R. though SDGW shows 18th Battalion.

Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £6 2s 10d, War Gratuity £6 10s to widow Hannah, Pension of 25/5 pw to Hannah and children Willam Arnall and Margaret Elsie. CWGC held Hannah's address as 15, Carolina St., Bootle, Liverpool.  

Edgar is commemorated on the Bootle Civic Memorial. 

We currently have no further information on Edgar Cheater, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.