Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

31 July - 10 November 1917. By the summer of 1917 the British Army was able for the first time to fight on its chosen ground on its terms. Having secured the southern ridges of Ypres at Messines in June, the main attack started on 31st July 1917 accompanied by what seemed like incessant heavy rain, which coupled with the artillery barrages conspired to turn much of the battlefield into a bog. Initial failure prompted changes in the high command and a strategy evolved to take the ring of ridges running across the Ypres salient in a series of 'bite and hold' operations, finally culminating in the capture of the most easterly ridge on which sat the infamous village of Passchendaele. The Official History carries the footnote ?The clerk power to investigate the exact losses was not available? but estimates of British casualties range from the official figure of 244,000 to almost 400,000. Within five months the Germans pushed the British back to the starting line, which was where they had been since May 1915.

Detail :

Obituary: Leamington Spa Courier 9th November 1917: - "CAPT. F. PERCY WHEELDON (KILLED). Regret has been occasioned by the news that Capt. F Percy Wheeldon of the London Regt. has been killed in action on the 30th ult. The third son of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeldon, of Hillside, Leamington, Capt. Wheeldon was deservedly esteemed and, by his charming disposition and splendid character, made himself beloved by all who knew him. He was years 32 years of age, and, in addition to his well-known brilliant characteristics, won deserved admiration by his many good qualities. He joined the St. Paul’s choir when eight years of age and at the age 15 years became articled to the then organist, Mr. A. E. Gibbs, Mus.B. Capt. Wheeldon made rapid strides in his profession, and ultimately took the diploma of Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. Six years later he removed to Wells, and was soon appointed sub organist of Wells Cathedral. Subsequently became organist of Wrington Parish Church, where he was also very successful as conductor of the Wrington Choral Society. In July 1914 he received an important position as organist at the Parish Church at Weston-super-Mare. The war having broken out he joined the R.A.M.C., and afterwards was transferred to the Post Office Rifles, in which he received his commission in 1915. In 1916 he was gazetted Captain, and afterwards proceeded to France, Capt. Wheeldon was seriously wounded at Bellecourt last May and [from Boulogne Hospital] was sent to Wandsworth Hospital. As soon as was sufficiently recovered he went again to join his regiment. Immediately before doing so took he the musical part in the services at Lillington Parish Church, and in the evening gave a fine organ recital. The day before his embarkation he played the Choral Communion Service at Lillington—for the harvest festival — leaving for France the same evening (October 8th). Capt. Wheeldon’s death is greatly lamented, as he was much esteemed both for his personal character and his great skill as an organist.

Mr. and Mrs. Wheeldon still have three sons serving in H.M. Forces. One of them. Private John Wheeldon, despatch rider, saw the deceased just before he went into action. In a wallet found on Capt. Wheeldon's body was a letter sealed up ready for posting to his parents. In this he wrote: “This is the eve of battle. The Battalion goes into the line tonight and we attack at dawn. I am going in command of "A Company", and our job is a difficult one, but I go in quite cheerfully, trusting I will do my duty well myself and by the men. Plucky fellows they are! I am in a hut with about 20 of them now, and it might well be an ordinary occasion, cheerful they are. Well, dearest Dad and Mother, I can only trust that I may come through safely, it rests in God's hands, and whatever happens you will try to look on it as God’s will, won’t you?"

The commanding officer of the regiment, writing to the bereaved father, says: "Your son fell at the head of his Company in an attack on the enemy positions, shot by machine gun through the brain, and his C.S.M was killed by his side. It is some poor consolation to know that his death was instantaneous, he felt and knew nothing, but just fell and died the glorious death of a soldier fighting for his country and for those dear to him. I only knew him for some three weeks, but had come to like and appreciate him in that time and to know what a gallant fellow he was; he was eager to be in this fight, smiling and cheerful up to the last moment that I saw him, and it speaks much for an officer that he was universally loved by all who knew him. Now I know how you and his mother will feel that nothing can offer real consolation, in this moment I would ask you to remember the thousands almost millions, of parents mourning the deaths of their soldier sons, and with them share their grief and mutual sympathy and with them be proud that they and you have given a dear son for the country: the sacrifice will not be in vain, and that is the part in this war of those who have to wait and suffer. It is a bitter part, but no less great than that of us who hear the brunt of the actual fighting, and it is being bravely borne by thousands."

The Adjutant of the Regiment has also sent a letter of sympathy, in the course of which he says: "I am personally very upset about 'Jimmie' as we all called him. I have been with him in the Battalion since July 1915, and we all were very fond him."

See also: Somerset List Entry.

Masonic :

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley
• Website : Province of Somerset List