Bed roll : Captain P H Cherry, 26 Battalion, AIF

Brown rectangular canvas bed roll. Stencilled on outside in faded white paint is 'LIEUT. P H CHERRY 7 COY M G CORPS AIF'. Under the writing are two leather straps, both attached to the roll by two brass rivets. In black writing below the straps is 'D.C. SEXTON 9TH R.D.F [Royal Dublin Fusiliers]'. On the outside covering flap of the roll are three buckles and straps and one at the foot to close the roll. Inside it consists of a base panel with a pillow pocket and a foot pocket incorporated into the ends. A series of seven brass eyelets run down on both sides of the interior. A dark grey woollen blanket is sewn to the inside base of the roll.

Captain Percy Herbert Cherry was born in Drysdale Victoria on 4 June 1895. His family moved to Tasmania when Cherry was seven. He served as a cadet, eventually becoming a second lieutenant, and later served in the Militia with the 93rd Infantry while he worked at his parent's apple orchard.

Following the outbreak of war in November 1914, Cherry enlisted in the AIF on 5 March 1915 in Franklin, Tasmania with his father's permission as he was under 21 years old. He was posted to 'D' Company, 26 Battalion and though he had qualified as an infantry officer in the Militia, at 19 years of age he was considered too young to be an officer and was made a quartermaster-sergeant.

Cherry served at Gallipoli from September. On 1 December, he was wounded in the face and head by a bomb blast and was evacuated to Egypt. He was appointed second lieutenant while in hospital. After he recovered, Cherry was posted to Tel-el-Kebir for machine gun training which he passed at the beginning of March 1916 and was seconded to the 7th Machine Gun Company.

Cherry arrived with his unit in France on 21 March. He was wounded in the neck at Pozieres on 5 August. He was evacuated to London and was promoted to lieutenant on 25 August.

This canvas bed roll dates from his time with the Machine Gun Company. It also has the name of “D C Sexton 9TH RDF” This is Second Lieutenant Daniel Christopher Sexton, a Regular Army officer, who served with the 9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers early in the First World War, later serving in the Royal Field Artillery and Indian Army. How Cherry came to have Sexton’s bed roll is unknown, but as the 9th RDF never served in the Middle East, Cherry may have obtained it in England or France in 1916.

In December, after returning to France, Cherry was posted back to 26 Battalion. He was appointed the rank of temporary captain, which was confirmed in-mid February 1917, and placed in command of 'A' Company.

Cherry was killed near Lagnicourt by a shell on the afternoon of 26 March 1917 during the action for which he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He had also been awarded the Military Cross for his actions at Malt Trench near Warlencourt earlier that month.