Frank Cheadle was an Australian pioneering rugby league footballer and AIF soldier who fell in World War I A New South Wales interstate and Australian international representative centre, he was reputedly the first Sydney rugby union player to sign with the new breakaway league in its earliest formative days in late 1907.
11 Facts About Frank Cheadle
1.
2.
Frank Cheadle played for New South Wales in the first rugby match run by the newly created 'New South Wales Rugby Football League' which had just split away from the established New South Wales Rugby Football Union.
3.
Frank Cheadle grew up in the inner-western suburbs of Marrickville and Stanmore and was educated at Fort Street High School.
4.
Frank Cheadle was playing rugby union with the Newtown RUFC in 1906 and on the verge of national selection when he signed with the new rugby league code.
5.
Frank Cheadle played in the inaugural series of matches between New South Wales and Baskerville's touring "All Golds" in 1907.
6.
Frank Cheadle is listed on the Australian Player Register as kangaroo No 2'.
7.
Frank Cheadle was awarded Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1914.
8.
Frank Cheadle joined the AIF on 4 January 1915 enlisting as a Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant and left Sydney on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 12 May 1915 as a member the 17th Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division.
9.
Frank Cheadle's battalion arrived at Gallipoli in August 1915 to relieve the 1st Division who had been there since April.
10.
Frank Cheadle was transferred to the 18th Battalion and promoted to Lieutenant on 1 October 1915.
11.
Frank Cheadle was evacuated with the 18th Battalion in the December winter, regrouped in Egypt and reached France in March 1916 seeing front line action in the trenches near Armentieres.