Charles Victor WHEELER

[NRP.HKP]

Charles Victor Wheeler is commemorated on the Marks Corner,Isle of Wight,War Memorial as being ' drowned at sea 11.11.1917 ', no other details.

I have not been able to find him on CWGC. Can anyone please obtain further details - age,service,unit,number and circumstances ? My Thanks.

[Black Sapper]

There's this on Free BMD

Deaths Dec 1917 Wheeler Charles V. 30 Southampton 2c 29

Nothing else I'm afraid?

[Stebie9173]

There is a Charles Victor Wheeler of the Mercantile Marine born at Carisbrooke, IoW in 1887 on the NA site:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7957973

Could that be him? Date of birth seems to fit, at least.

Steve.

[jay dubaya]

1911 census has a Charles Victor Wheeler born Carisbrook, Newport, Isle of Wight, address given as 110 East View Cottage, Arctic Rd, Cowes, occupation as Baker and married to Lottie Louisa. Local papers may hold some clues,

Jon

[NRP.HKP]

My thanks for these prompt leads,now to find which merchant vessel he was on on the date in question,and where !

[Stebie9173]

Assuming the list here is accurate:

http://www.naval-history.net/WW1LossesBrMS1918.htm

then Lapwing looks favourite:

LAPWING, 1,192grt, 11 November 1917, 9 miles SE from Southwold, mined and sunk

http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?12668

The wrecksite link does say there were no casualties, however.

Steve.

[Stebie9173]

Assuming he wasn't lost overboard from a ship not lost on that day, then s.s. Basil may also be an option:

http://www.bevs.org/diving/wkbasil.htm

http://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10190&view=previous

Steve.

[Terence Munson]

Name:WHEELER, C V Chief Cook

Date of death:11 November 1917

Age:30 of Davenport House, Parkhurst, Isle of Wight.

Place of death:At Sea

Place of birth:Isle Of Wight

Belonging to service: Mercantile Marine

Ship's name: S.S. Basil, Booth S.S. Co.; 1895; Workman, Clark & Co.; 3,223 tons;

338 x 43 • 7 X 26 • 1; 334 n.h.p.; triple-expansion engines

Sunk in a collision with the French Steamship Margaux on November 11th, 1917, S.E. of the Owen Light.

She was carrying ammunition from Southampton to Boulogne. 13 lives lost. The Margaux survived with extensive

damage to her bows. Because of the hazards (U-boats and enemy surface ships),, the usual practice of allied shipping was to sail erratically and at night without running lights Both ships were doing exactly this.

Because the collision is classed as a Maritime accident and not considered war related (dubious in my estimation), the casualties do not qualify for CWGC commemoration.

Terry

[NRP.HKP]

My thanks to all;queries answered in full,within 3 hours !

Illustrates the amount of interest,dedication and co-operation you can get from this Forum.

[Terence Munson]

Just to add, one of SS Basil's casualties qualifys for commemoration because he was serving in the RNR.

Seaman Colman Flaherty (23) CWGC Link

Terry

[jay dubaya]

Similar thread here http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=87070

An enormous cargo here http://www.divernet.com/Wrecks/wreck_tours/159442/wreck_tour_36_the_basil.html

How can it not be war related?

[Guest sarahpat@fsmail.net]

Charles Victor Wheeler is commemorated on the Marks Corner,Isle of Wight,War Memorial as being ' drowned at sea 11.11.1917 ', no other details.

I have not been able to find him on CWGC. Can anyone please obtain further details - age,service,unit,number and circumstances ? My Thanks.

Hi there, I have recently stumbled across this website and your posting (albeit last September 2013) looking for information on Charles Victor Wheeler. He was my Great Grandfather and I have been trying on and off to do some family research on him for quite some time. It was fascinating reading all of the comments and suggestions that you had back. Can I just ask, do you live on the Isle of Wight and do you have a connection with him? It would be great to hear back from you.

Many thanks

[NRP.HKP]

My apologies for late response to your reply.I believe his name cropped up during some research I was attempting into the Isle of Wight Rifles,in which regiment my great uncle was killed during the 3rd battle of Gaza (Nov 1917).Issue now closed but thank you for your interest.

[chaz]

Hi, my name is Charles Wheeler. dont think we are related directly but one of our old aunts and uncles lived in west street,Ryde for many years. William (Bill ) Wilkins and Florence Tansom. Uncle Bill served in OBLI during the first war.