Royal Navy Death

[majorsam]

I am trying to find information on a seaman by the name of A Wheeler who died pre July 1915.

His name is on the local parish church war memorial in Flint, Flintshire as is his father William Edmund Wheeler who was kia on 26th March 1917.

There is no death report of A Wheeler in the local newspaper but on 2nd July 1915 it was reported that his mother was in court on a charge of stealing where she states she has two sons in the army and had lost one in the navy (her husband had not enlisted yet).

William Edmund's death was reported in the newspaper where it also stated "It may be mentioned that the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Wheeler was lost on a vessel which was torpedoed"

In the 1901 census the eldest son was Augustus W. Wheeler who was born in Silvertown, Essex in about 1894.

His name is not on the CWGC website so how can I find out when he died and his service record. I did a search in the National Archives website but nothing showed up.

Where do I go from here please?

Regards

Peter

[Terry Denham]

There is no A.Wheeler or A.W.Wheeler in the 'GRO Naval Death List 1914-21' who died before 1916. Nor any other Wheeler from pre-1916 with an 'A' as a forename. This list consists of all RN personnel who died overseas, at sea or in the UK.

This suggests that something is wrong in your information. You need some sort of official document confirming his existance in the RN rather than taking unreliable newspaper/NoK reports as being true.

Was he a Mercantile Marine man?

[majorsam]

I have checked the CWGC website for A wheeler and W Wheeler and in fact all Wheelers in the Army, Navy, Merchant Navy and Civilian list but nothing fits the bill. I have also checked the SDGW.

So as you say there is something wrong in the information in the newspaper. It is definitely A Wheeler because of the name on the war memorial. I don't think he was living in Flint before the war so perhaps he went back to his home town of Silvertown, Essex and maybe his name is on the war memorial there. Not that that would help in any way.

Thanks for your help

Peter

[Terry Denham]

Peter

Don't take the war memorial as gospel.

Many of them have incorrect names. It is quite common.

[majorsam]

Yes I know. His father was inscribed as W C Wheeler intead of W E.

Peter

[per ardua per mare per terram]

The only Augustus Wheelers listed on the National Archives list of RN service records

Name Wheeler, Edward Charles Augustus

Official Number: L3501

Place of Birth: Portsmouth, Hampshire

23 December 1893 ADM 188/995

Name Wheeler, Frederick Augustus

Official Number: 159028

Place of Birth: Abingdon, Berkshire

06 August 1872

No Wheelers were listed as being born in Silvertown, but some were close.

[majorsam]

I purchased Edward Charles Augustus Wheeler's service record but unfortunately he is not my man.

The elusive Augustus William is the one I'm looking for.

Thanks

Peter

[historydavid]

Peter,

The following are the only Wheelers in RN service who died during your time frome.

WHEELER, FRANK A, L/SIGNALMAN, 208219, PEMBROKE, 22/01/2015, ILLNESS

WHEELER, LLOYD C, GUNNER, RMA (RFR Immed. Cl. 81), 9442 (Po), GOOD HOPE, 01/11/2014, SHIP LOSS

WHEELER, WILLIAM L, O.S, J 20477 (Po), BULWARK, 26/11/2014, SHIP LOSS

WHEELER, WILLIAM R, BOY 1c, J 20385 (Po), BULWARK, 26/11/2014, SHIP LOSS

WHEELER, WILLIAM F, GUNNER, RMA (RFR Immed. Cl. 29), 8118 (Po), GOOD HOPE, 01/11/2014, SHIP LOSS

Have checked Towere Hill listing and MM and MMRs buried and no Wheelers fit the time frame.

I appreciate the men I have listed don't fit well with what you are looking for, but they are the only ones available.

I suppose that the woman's claim could have been spurious and simply a way of gaining the court's sympathy. I doubt it would have been checked beforehand.

Best wishes

David