Pte
Stephen William Wheeler

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortejaar:
1889
Geboorteplaats:
Hackney, Middlesex, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Winkelier

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
82036
Dienstneming datum:
17/04/1915
Dienstneming plaats:
Woolwich, Kent, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), 1st Bn. attd. 15th Bn.  (Attached)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
23/10/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Houthulst Forest, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
28

Gedenkplaats

Onderscheidingen en medailles 3

1914-15 Star
Medaille
British War Medal
Medaille — 28/04/1921
Victory Medal
Medaille — 28/04/1921

Points of interest 3

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats
#3 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

Stephen William Wheeler born in 1889 in Hackney, Middlesex worked as a storekeeper before the war. In April 1915 he enlisted and served as a Private in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment 1st Battalion. Though in October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele he was attached to the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment, 15th Battalion, part of the 105th Brigade, of the 35th Division, which was positioned south of the Houthulst Forrest from the 21st of October onwards.

On the morning of the 22nd of October the 35th Division attacked German positions in the forest. The 15th Sherwood Foresters were supporting the two attacking Battalions (14th and 16th Cheshires) of the 105th Brigade. As the advance immediately encountered strong opposition the 15th Foresters were sent up to attack strongpoints on the edge of the ruined wood. When the 16th Cheshires on the right of the 105th Brigade’s front were beaten back by a German counterattack a platoon of the 15th Foresters were sent up to close the gap.

In the early morning of 23 October 1917 another German counterattack developed. It was aimed at the junction of the Brigade and the French Troops on their left, near Panama House. But the Cheshires and “X” Company of the 15th Foresters supported by an artillery barrage managed to fend of the attack.

Throughout the three days the 15th Foresters were in the frontline at Houthulst Forest they suffered a total of 198 casualties. Private Stephen William Wheeler Wheeler was one of them. The 28-year old was killed in action on the 23rd of October 1917. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

Bestanden 1

Bronnen 3

24 Infantry Brigade: 1 Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire... , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1721/3).
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303
Gebruikte bronnen
Bacon M. and Langley D.,The Blast War: A History of Nottingham's Bantams. 15th (S) Battalion Sherwood Foresters 1915-1919, (Nottingham, The Sherwood Press Ltd.), p. 48-49.
Gebruikte bronnen
McCarthy C., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Uniform, 2018), pg. 140-141.
Gebruikte bronnen

Meer informatie 3