In 1824 Cheape was ordered to Burma, and served through the three campaigns of the First Anglo-Burmese War. Then for more than two decades he was employed in civil engineering. His promotion, however, went on, and he became major in 1830, lieutenant-colonel in 1834, and colonel in 1844. In 1848 Cheape happened to be employed in the Punjab when the Siege of Multan was being planned. He was appointed chief engineer, and ran the operations which led to the fall of the fortress. He then joined the army under Hugh Gough. He directed the artillery fire in the Battle of Gujrat, the decisive moment in the Second Anglo-Sikh War. Gough mentioned his services in his despatches, and Cheape was made a C.B. in the 1838 Coronation Honours and an "aide-de-camp" to the queen.