Arthur Marcus Hill Cheek (East India Company Officer)
| Arthur Marcus Hill Cheek | |
|---|---|
Arthur Marcus Hill Cheek
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| Nickname(s) | The young martyr of Allahabad |
| Born |
31 July 1840 Evesham, Worcestershire, United Kingdom |
| Died | 16 June 1857 (aged 16) Fort Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Buried at | Fort Allahabad |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/branch | Bengal Army |
| Years of service | 1857 |
| Rank | Ensign |
| Unit | 6th Bengal Native Infantry |
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Ensign Arthur Marcus Hill Cheek (31 July 1840 – 16 June 1857) was an East India Company Officer known posthumously as "the young martyr of Allahabad." Cheek joined the East India Company's Bengal Army in February 1857, arrived in India on 28 April, and was posted to the 6th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry on 28 April of that year. On 6 June the regiment mutinied, Cheek was captured by mutinying sepoys and died on 16 June. Witnesses stated that Cheek refused to renounce his Christian faith during his captivity despite being held in stocks in the sun, in an attempt to encourage him to convert to Islam.
Arthur Marcus Hill Cheek, the fourth child of Oswald Cheek and Emma Ashwin, was born in Evesham, Worcestershire, United Kingdom on 31 July 1840. He was given the names "Arthur Marcus Hill" in honour of his Godfather, Lord Arthur Marcus Cecil Hill who was the Member of Parliament for Evesham at the time of his birth. He was baptised on 15 August 1840 at the Parish Church of All Saints, Evesham.
When Arthur was 16 his father obtained, with the help of Arthur's Godfather Lord Hill, a direct appointment for him with the East India Company's Army. He was not required to attend Addiscombe Military Seminary for the standard two years but he was required to pass an examination, which he did on 3 February 1857. He was appointed as an Ensign in the Bengal Army on 4 February 1857. He departed from Southampton on 20 March, arriving in Calcutta on 28 April. He was then assigned to the 6th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry who were currently stationed in Allahabad. After taking leave for three weeks to visit family who were living in India Ensign Cheek made his way to his Regiment, arriving on 19 May.
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