 At the outbreak of war , Cherry was sent to Claremont Camp and assumed duties as a drill instructor . On 5 March 1915 , he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and was allotted to the 26th Battalion , where he qualified as an infantry officer , but was considered too young for a commission in the Australian Imperial Force and was instead made a Quartermaster Sergeant . On 29 June , the battalion embarked from Brisbane for Egypt with Cherry aboard HMAT Aeneas . On arrival , the battalion spent several months training in the desert , where Cherry was promoted to company sergeant major in August . On 12 September , the battalion landed at Gallipoli and played a defensive role at Courtney ’ s and Steele ’ s Posts , and Russell ’ s Top . 
