Five: Wheeler Quartermaster Sergeant W. H. J. Wheeler, Royal Horse Artillery, who was severely wounded in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme

1914-15 Star (1788 Whlr. S.Sjt. W. H. J. Wheeler. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals (1788 S.Sjt. W. H. J. Wheeler. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1021238 W.O. Cl.II. H. J. W. Wheeler. R.H.A.); Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., Territorial (1021238 S.Sjt. W. H. J. Wheeler. R.A.) mounted court-style for wear, generally good very fine and better (5) £120-£160

William Henry John Wheeler, a carpenter, was born in Weston-super-Mare in 1881 and attested for the Royal Artillery at Bristol around 1899. Posted to France as Wheeler Staff Sergeant from 14 December 1914, he is recorded in Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942 as suffering a severe gunshot wound to the body on 31 August 1916. Evacuated from the Western Front, the wound ended his Great War campaign overseas but he remained in the service of the Royal Horse Artillery and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with gratuity in April 1921. Wheeler continued to train new recruits in the Territorial Army until discharge at Blackheath on 9 April 1937, his service noted as ‘exemplary’.