Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 2086    SESSION 8 (2.30PM WEDNESDAY 29TH MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $300
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $320

PAIR TO KIA: British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 5478 Pte J.R.Wheeler. 8 Bn. A.I.F. Both medals impressed. Good very fine.

James Rookie Wheeler, miner, age 38, born at Beechworth, Vic; Enl.04Feb1916; Disemb.14May1916 at Suez;to France 29Aug1916; KIA.03Mar1917 France - in 'Cobbers in Khaki' History of the 8th Battalion, by Ron Austin (1997), p143 '...On 3rd March an explosion occurred when the company commander Lieutenant Bill Catron tried to remove a dagger embedded in the wall of a dugout. Unfortunately, the dagger was booby trapped to a German mine which exploded when pulled from the wall, killing Catron and Privates Dillon, Edwards, Wheeler and Ryan, all members of Catron's HQ. Chaplain Booth who had only recently joined the unit, performed the burial ceremony, but this was interrupted by enemy shell fire, leaving Booth to hurriedly pronounce the benediction and disperse the mourners...'; Buried in the Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers in France.

With copy of service file, other research and photos of grave.