Four: Major G. D. Wheeler, Royal Garrison Artillery, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Nicholson’s Nek on 30 October 1899, and was Mentioned in Despatches; he had previously been awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal for saving life on Lake Geneva in 1886

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896, no clasp (Lieut. G. D. Wheeler. R.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Natal, Transvaal (Capt. G. D. Wheeler. R.G.A.) engraved naming, minor official correction to surname; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. G. D. Wheeler. R.A.) engraved naming; British War Medal 1914-20 (Major G. D. Wheeler.) minor edge bruise to last, otherwise nearly extremely fine (4) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Royal Artillery.

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Guy Danvers Wheeler was born at Illawara, New South Wales, in 1868 and in 1886 was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Medal for saving life on Lake Geneva at Lausanne on 12 August 1886 (R.H.S. Case no. 23,274). He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 27 January 1892, and was promoted Lieutenant on 27 January 1895, and Captain on 1 January 1900. He served in both the operation is Rhodesia in 1896, where he was in charge of the Maxim Guns as part of Colonel Plumer’s force, and in South Africa during the Boer War with the 10th Mountain Battery. He was taken Prisoner of War at Nicholson’s Nek on 30 October 1899, and later released, and for his services in South Africa he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 29 July 1902). Following the outbreak of the Great War he was commissioned temporary Major, Royal Field Artillery, on 22 November 1915 and served with them on the Western Front from February 1917 (also entitled to a Victory Medal).