Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant J. E. V. Wheeler, Somerset Light Infantry, who was wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

1914-15 Star (15353 Sjt. J. E. V. Wheeler. Som. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. E. V. Wheeler.) nearly extremely fine (3) £140-£180

John Edward Victor Wheeler was born in Redhill, Surrey, in 1893 and attested for the 13th Reserve of Cavalry Regiment on the 7 September 1914, before transferring to the Bomb Company, 8th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, the following month. Promoted Corporal on 1 February 1915, and Sergeant on 9 September 1915, he served during the Great War on the Western Front, and received a gunshot wound to left arm and left leg on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Taken to the 34th Casualty Clearing Station, he was repatriated back to England on 7 July 1916 to the Third Western General Hospital, from where he was released on 3 October 1916. He subsequently transferred to the 11th (Donegal and Fermanagh) Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, on 29 November 1916, and served with them on the Western Front before being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, on 31 July 1917. He was promoted Lieutenant on 6 February 1918, and relinquished his commission on 30 April 1919.