Actg Coy Sgt Mjr WE Wheeler 11 Hussars

[Wolbrown]

Hi Stephen.

I'm currently looking into my great grandfathers military history which I know that he is a recipient of the DCM from the battle of the Somme.
I have seen the citation for it, but it lacks where exactly he had carried out his actions etc....

Speaking to my grandmother, she remembers my great grandfather saying that he was with an officer who had won the VC and this officer was the son of the Bishop of Liverpool. Which after looking into turned out to be possibly Capt Noel Chavasse and it believed to be this was when Chavasse won the first of the two VC's whilst attached to the 10th Kings Liverpool Regiment around 9/10th August 1916.
The main issue that I've got is the my great grandfather had served in a couple of regiments in the Great War, but his named regiment on his DCM is 11th Hussars as an Acting Company Sergeant Major and believed he was attached to another regiment at the time.

Sorry for the long story, but thought I'll put you in the picture of what I know.
Would it be possible if you could look into the war diary for the time of when Capt Noel Chavasse had carried out his actions and see if there is a mention of Actg Coy Sgt Mjr WE Wheeler please 11 Hussars please, so I can be 100% sure this is the case and if possible email me a copy please.

Regards

[Mark Abbott]

This is interesting! When I first read the post, I was unsure that the information was correct as the 11th Hussars did not form part of the 5th West Lancashire Division however, 5722 A CSM W E Wheeler was attached to the 1/4th South Lancs which did form part of the division.

Looking at the LG date, I would have thought the award was for the fighting in and around Guillemont in August 1916

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Guillemont

The fact that the citation refers to bringing in the wounded may well have meant he met with Noel Chavasse who was the MO of the 1/10th Liverpool Regiment who won his first VC on the 9th August 1916 near Guillemont.

Do you have any other details? Can you post the exact naming on the DCM as CSM is an infantry rank not a cavalry one the equivalent being SSM ie, Squadron Sergeant Major?
Mark

[Wolbrown]

Hi. I know where you're coming from regarding it being an infantry rank, but I believe he ended up being re-cap badged to South Lancs during the Great War and went on to become a captain.

I have only seen his DCM briefly, as another member of the family has it and I'm 99.9% sure it is as what is in his citation as below.

5722 Actg. Coy. S./M. W. E. Wheeler, Hrs.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. When all his officers became casualties, he rallied the men and restored confidence. Later he took out rescue parties to bring in the wounded.

As I mentioned on my first post it was that my grandmother that said my great grandfather said he was with an officer who was the son of the bishop of liverpool (who I'm sure must of been Chavasse) when that officer got a VC and my great grandfather the DCM on the Somme, for what I'm sure she said was at same time/action and only thinking it must of been Guillemont!
The main thing for me is knowing where exactly or rough area of the Somme where he had carried out his actions to be awarded the DCM.

[Wolbrown]

P.s. Thank you for the link