CHERRY, Dr George Frederick ‘Ike’ (1889-1959)
George Cherry was born on 2 July 1889, the son of George Edward Cherry and Ada Mary nee Hughes. He was educated as a boarder at Geelong College from 1903 to 1907 and gave his address at entry as Gisborne. He was enrolled as 'George Eric Cherry'
At College, he played in the 1st Football Team of 1907. The Annual Report prize lists list him as 2nd in History in the Lower 4th Class; 1st in Boarders Scripture in the Middle Division; and 2nd in Chemistry in the 6th Form. He later studied at Ormond College, The University of Melbourne, where he completed 3rd year Medicine.
During World War I, he enlisted (No. 3134) in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) on 15 March 1915, and embarked on HMAT A31 Ajana on 4 June 1915 with C Section, 6th Field Ambulance. He served in Egypt and at Gallipoli. After the Evacuation from Gallipoli he returned to Australia on 3 March 1916, as reported in Pegasus of May 1916: 'T G Wynne, N E S Birnie and (Private) G F Cherry, after having seen service in the Field Ambulance Corps at Anzac, have returned to Melbourne to complete their medical course.'
He died at Brisbane, Queensland on 30 June 1959. His brother Edward John Cherry (1887-1965) was also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: 'Geelong Collegians at the Great War' compiled by J. Affleck; p.155 (citing The University of Melbourne: Record of Active Service of Teachers, Graduates, Undergraduates, Officers and Servants (1926); Pegasus; National Archives).