“Run for your life; I’m done for!” were the last words of Lieutenant Cherrill Roach Betterton during the American offensive of September 29, 1918, when the Wild West Division advanced to the village of Gesnes. (Seattle Star, 31 May 1919, pg. 10) During that attack – while traveling with Corporal John Cudd – Cherrill was in an advanced and exposed position when a blast came from a German machine gun. A member of the Intelligence Section responsible for scouting, patrolling, observing and sniping, Cherrill was cited for his bravery by General John J. Pershing for his efforts to get enemy information back to his commanding officers. Last seen when struck by the machine gun’s bullets, Cherrill was declared missing and it would be over eight months before his fate was confirmed. A member of the 361st Infantry with the 91st Division, Cherrill’s remains were eventually recovered and he is buried at Meuse-Argonne Cemetery. (bit.ly/uw_betterton)
The oldest of Charles Leland Betterton and his wife Ellen Maude Cahill’s five children, Cherrill was born in Oak Cliff, Texas. The family moved from Texas to Colorado to British Columbia before making their way to Seattle. A graduate of Victoria High School in British Columbia, Cherrill attended the University of Washington for two years (1912-14) before transferring to Stanford University. He was a junior when he enlisted and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Cherrill was married to Ida May MacDonald on December 18, 1916, in Vancouver. Their romance began as a result of a train accident near Merritt, BC, they were both involved in. (Seattle Seattle Times, 24 Dec 1916, pg. 2)