George Godfrey Massy Wheeler

Led lancers against enemy positions and standards at Shaiba.

George Godfrey Massy Wheeler was born at Chakrata, India, on 31 January 1873 into an Army family. Educated at Bedford Modern School, he entered the Wiltshire Regiment in 1893 and transferred to the Indian Army in 1897. With the 7th Hariana Lancers he served on the North-West Frontier. His campaign medals record the Punjab Frontier and Waziristan operations and the frontier campaign of 1908. He commanded the 50th Camel Corps from 1908 to 1912 and became a major in 1911.

During the First World War his regiment served in Mesopotamia. On 12 April 1915, at Shaiba, Wheeler led his squadron against an enemy flag around which troops were firing on a British picquet. His lancers attacked and withdrew, drawing opponents from concealed ground where British artillery could engage them. The next day he led another charge against the North Mound. Riding ahead towards the enemy standards, he was killed.

His posthumous Victoria Cross recognised his leadership and repeated exposure to danger on both days. The award was announced on 1 September 1915 and presented to his widow in September 1916. He was buried in Basra War Cemetery. His widow later lived in Brighton, and his medals entered the town's museum collection in 1950. Their rediscovery in museum storage in 2015 restored public attention to the complete group and his earlier frontier service.

Victoria Cross citation London Gazette, 1 September 1915, page8699:

For most conspicuous bravery at Shaiba, Mesopotamia.

On the 12th April, 1915, Major Wheeler asked permission to take out his Squadron and attempt to capture a flag, which was the centre point of a group of the enemy who were firing on one of our picquets. He advanced and attacked the enemy’s infantry with the Lance, doing considerable execution among them. He then retired while the enemy swarmed out of hidden ground and formed an excellent target to our Royal Horse Artillery guns.

On the 13th April, 1915, Major Wheeler led his Squadron to the attack of the “North Mound.” He was seen far ahead of his men riding single-handed straight for the enemy’s standards. This gallant Officer was killed on the Mound.