20th BATTALION - 36th BATTALION AIF
Private: 5108 John WHEELER.
Born: 1890. Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert: (No Record)
Married: 1916. Balmain, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:6017/1916.
Wife: Agnes Wheeler. nee: Reid. (1893-1957)
Died: 12th December 1916. Died of Wounds. France.
Father: Richard Alfred Wheeler. (1859-1910)
Mother: Grace Wheeler. nee: Sharples. (1870-1932)
INFORMATION
John Wheeler enlisted with the AIF at Casula, N.S.W. on the 18th January 1916 where he was allocated to A Company, Depot Battalion until the 2nd of February where he was transferred to the 13th Reinforcements 20th Battalion and was en trained to Liverpool Army Camp and embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A31 "Ajana" from Sydney on the 5th July 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 31st August 1916.
HMAT A31 AJANA
The Reinforcements where he was marched in the 5th Training Battalion. John was again transferred to C Company 36th Battalion AIF on the 29th September 1916 before embarking for France on the 22nd November 1916.
22nd November 1916.
Larkhill. Troops en trained at Amesbury Station in three trains. 1st Train 7:47 am Compliment-Officers 11 and 327 others, 19 horses, 8 hand carts, 3 4 wheeled wagons and 9 bicycles. Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON. Officer Commanding. A Company Lieutenant: Herman Augustus ARNOLD. B Company Lieutenant: 3 Harry WOODHAMS. C Company Lieutenant: James Michael JULEFF.
2nd Train 9:15 am-Compliment-Officers 11 and 327 others. 20 horses, 2 two wheeled, 5 four wheeled vehicles. Major: Archibald Clifford BLACKLOW. Officer Commanding. A Company Lieutenant: Richard Henry DOYLE..
3rd Train 11:am- Compliment-Officers 10, 326 other ranks, 20 horses, 2 two wheeled, 5 four wheeled vehicles. Major: Archibald Leeson PRINCE. Officer Commanding. B Company Lieutenant: 1376 William James GORDON.
Embarked "Caesarea" 24 Officers, 811 others. Embarked "African Prince" 8 Officers 168 others, 59 horses, 15 four wheeled vehicles, 12 two wheeled vehicles and 9 bicycles. Total 32 Officers, others 979 left Southampton 6:00 pm. 1 Officer 75 others detailed as sentries and boat guard. 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal and 20 detailed as Firing Party. 5 Sanitary Police and 10 men as Sanitary Party.
23rd November 1916.
Arrived at La Havre 1:40 am. Disembarked 7:25 am. Marched via town to No:1 Rest Camp arrived 11:40 am. Remained at Rest Camp, Le Harve, till 6:30 am 24th November 1916.
24th November 1916.
36th Battalion, less 8 Officers 250 Other Ranks marched via town to point 3 Railway Station, Le Harve at 8:00am. En trained and left Le Harve at 10:30 am. Proceeded via Montcrolier Buchy, Abbeville 6:10 am. 10 hours late via Boulogne Calais and Bailleul. Arrived at Bailleul at 4:25 pm 25th November 1916.
25th November 1916.
Detrained at Bailleul marched to billets at Merris district. Arrived at billets 10:45 pm. Quartered in 12 billets. Headquarters at Hameur Farm.
26th November 1916.
4 Officers 100 men "A" Company arrived at Merris at 8:30 am. Remainder of Battalion arrived at Merris 4:00 pm. Hostile aircraft shelled overhead 2:15 pm.
27th November 1916.
8 N.C.O's detailed to attend Gas School for 4 days. All Officers instructed in Box Respirator by Divisional Gas Officer. General: Alexander John GODLEY and General: Sir John MONASH visited billets at Hameur Farm at 2:30 pm. Captain: John Martin HAWKEY. and 1 N.C.O. per Company visited forward billets at Armentiers.
28th November 1916.
Battalion left for Armentieres in 16 Motor Lorries. Whole Battalion reported in billets at Armentieres at 5:30 pm. Headquarters established at 6:00 pm Rue De Strasburg.
29th November 1916.
Whole Battalion still in billets-supply Working Parties Only.
30th November 1916.
Visited the front line on left sector of Defenses at Armenteriers.
John was Wounded in Action on the 11th December 1916 and was treated by the 10th Australian Field Ambulance for Gun Shot Wounds to both his legs and was evacuated by stretcher bearers to the No:2 Casualty Clearing Station where he Died of his Wounds at 10:45 am on the 12th December and is remembered with honour and is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Bailleu Military Cemetery.
Bailleu Military Cemetery
Family Information
John was a single 25 year old Miner from Casula, N.S.W. upon his enlistment with the AIF. He married Agnes Reid at Balmain prior to his departure for England.
Military Records
Under Construction: 27/07/2020.