Charles David Wheeler

Rifleman

Conflict:

WW1

Additional Information:

Son of Phoebe Wheeler, of 37, Stafford St., Timaru.

References:

CWGC

Archives New Zealand

NZ WAR GRAVES

CONTRIBUTED

Public Contributions:

Charles David (Charlie) Wheeler was born in Timaru, New Zealand on 6th January 1893 to Jonah Charles Wheeler and Phoebe (nee Fisher). He had an older sister, Charlotte Jane (Jean), born 17th May 1891..., and a younger brother Ernest Thomas (Thomas), born 1st June 1901. Sadly Thomas died at 15 months on 25th September 1902, leaving Jean and Charlie as the only remaining children. Charlie’s father, Jonah, was born on 27th June 1852 in the Jersey Islands. Jonah’s father (also Jonah Charles Wheeler) appears to have come out from the UK in the early 1850’s and was a carter in Christchurch and died, and was buried, in Lyttleton. This may explain Jonah Jnr.’s occupation as a groom/stableman. Charlie’s mother, Phoebe, was born in Timaru on 22nd April 1864. Her younger sister, Elizabeth was also born in Timaru, but her older siblings, John, Susan and Jemima (Jerry) were born in Drewsbury, Yorkshire, UK. Phoebe’s parents, Nathan Fisher and Mary Ann (nee Ellis), migrated to New Zealand on the Roman Emperor (arriving in Lyttleton on 27th January 1860). Nathan was a brickmaker and had a business in Timaru. When his wife, Mary Ann (nee Ellis) died on 23rd January 1877, he sold his business and was going to return to England, but stayed and died on 11th July 1900, aged 71. They are both buried in Timaru Cemetery. Charlie is presumed to have had his primary education at Waimataitai primary school, and possibly Timaru Technical High. Before the war Charlie was in the Territorials, and is recorded as participating in a shooting meeting in April 1914. His war record is not presently available on-line, so the exact details of his military career are not clear. The Evening Post (Wellington) of 18th September 1915, records his temporary promotion from private to Corporal. He was then in C Company, 8th Reinforcements, 3rd & 4th Battalions of the Trentham Rifle Brigade based at Trentham Military Camp (in the Hutt Valley near Wellington). The same paper, dated 8th March 1917, records another temporary appointment for him, from private to Lance Corporal. He was listed as being in the 23rd Reinforcements. Charlie left New Zealand, a few days later (14th March 1917), on the troopship Ruapehu, as part of the 23rd Reinforcements of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. They sailed via the Cape of Good Hope arriving in Devonport England on 21st May 1917. The rolls give his next of kin as Mrs P Wheeler of Brunswick St, Timaru. New Zealand newspapers of 12th and 14th June 1917 report him as being wounded, but not seriously. This implies he must have been sent to the front almost immediately after arriving in Europe. He must have recovered and went back to the front. His last unit was listed as 2nd Battalion, 3rd, New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He was killed at Ypres (Ieper) on 12th October 1917. It is presumed his body was either not found, or not identified. On 9th November 1917 the Marlborough Express newspaper, in New Zealand, still listed his name as amongst the missing. Apart from the memorial at Tyne Cott, his name is recorded on the main Timaru memorial, St Mary’s Anglican Church and Waimataitai Primary School. His death was a double tragedy for his mother, Phoebe, who lost her husband, Jonah, 3 months earlier on 18th July 1918, aged 65. Phoebe’s remaining child, Jean, married Norman Trane (Norm) Walker on 2nd September 1919. He was a hairdresser and had his business, and home, at 44 Stafford St, Timaru. Phoebe lived with them until her death on 22nd June 1936 aged 72. Norm and Jean’s 4 children remember her as a loving grandmother. Phoebe, Jonah and Thomas are buried together at Timaru. Read More

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Casualty

Service Number:

40734

Name:

Charles David Wheeler

Rank:

Rifleman

Date of Birth:

Not known

Next of Kin:

Mrs P. Wheeler (mother), Brunswick Street, Timaru, New Zealand

Date of Enlistment:

Not known

Occupation on Enlistment:

Bookbinder

Armed Force:

Army

Unit:

3 New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade, 2 Battalion

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Date of Death:

12 October 1917

Day of Death:

Friday

Conflict:

WW1

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:

New Zealand Rifle Brigade

Embarkation Place:

Wellington, New Zealand

Embarkment Date:

14 March 1917

Transport:

HMNZT 79

Vessel:

Ruapehu

Destination:

Devonport, England

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Tyne Cot Memorial

Cemetery Reference:

N.Z. Apse, Panel 7.

Cemetery Location:

Belgium