Robert Cheshire was born in the village of Little Canfield, Essex on Monday, 22nd May 1898. He was the third son born to Esau Cheshire and Alice Mary Brewster (nee Gilder) who had nine children together. The children were: Horace, Mabel Alice, Esau, Robert, Florence, Alice Mary, Harold, Edith and the youngest Albert Edward. Robert’s mother had been married before and had two boys Archibald and Frederick, older half brothers to the Cheshire children. Horace and Esau both died in their first year in 1894 and 1897 respectively. When Robert was born his father Esau worked as a "Groom" and "Gardener", but in 1906 Esau brought the family to Hemel Hempstead where he set up his own business as a "Cartage Contractor" and "Coal and Lime Dealer". The new family home was at 38, London Road from where Robert and his older sister Mabel, went to the local Two Waters British School in March 1906.

Robert left the school in 1911 and started work, although it is not known what or where his job was at the time. However, on enlistment he stated his occupation as "Gardener" and gave his residence as Shendish Gardens in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. Shendish Manor was built and owned by the Longman family of publishing fame and it was Arthur Longman who developed the estate and build houses for his workforce, one of which Robert occupied in 1916. During World War I Shendish was used as an army camp through which 20,000 soldiers passed and the 21st Battery 8th London Brigade RFA made it its headquarters. It was from here that Robert went to enlist when he reached the age of eighteen in May 1916.

He travelled to Bedford where he attested and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment and on the promise of future service, he was transferred to the Army Reserve. He was mobilised on the 5th February 1917 and underwent a medical examination which described him as follows: "5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 120 lbs, with a 34 inch chest and a range of expansion of 2½ inches". All this meant he was passed fit for military service and then posted to the 3/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment at Felixstowe for basic training. Just four months later he was sent overseas on the 21st June and posted to the 7th Battalion Bedfordshires, joining his unit at Hénu in France on the 1st July. This was, however, simply a step in the process of moving him from a Territorial Unit to a Regular Army Battalion and on the 13th July, he was transferred a final time to his new regiment, the 12th East Surreys at Dickebusch south of Ypres.

Only two weeks later he saw serious action for the first time when he fought in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge and in September he fought in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. On the 12th November, the 12th East Surreys moved with the 41st Division when it transferred to Italy, where it took up positions north west of Mantua. The Division then took over a sector of front line behind the River Piave, north west of Treviso, between the 30th November and early on the 2nd December.

Robert’s time in Italy was relatively brief however, and by March 1918 he was back in France with his Battalion. On the 21st March he was in action once more as the Battle of St Quentin commenced and the Battalion came under constant attack by the German guns. Four days later at the Battle of Bapaume, Robert was killed. This was an action which was both demoralising and costly in terms of casualties for the allies and Robert was just one of 255,000 men who were killed or injured during late March and April.

Robert died on Monday, 25th March 1918.

He was commemorated on the War Memorial plaque in St John the Evangelist church in Boxmoor.

Robert is Remembered with Honour on the Arras Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France, Bay 6.

He was only 20 years old when he died.

Robert was eligible for the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.