WHEEN, Arthur Wesley
| Service Number: | 4386 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 September 1915, Trainee, Sydney University Scouts. |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 54th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sunny Bank, New South Wales, Australia, 9 February 1897 |
| Home Town: | Roseville, Ku-ring-gai, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Nowra, South Bathurst, and Gordon Public Schools; Sydney Boys' High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Teacher |
| Died: | Illness, Amersham Hospital, Buckinhamshire, England, 15 March 1971, aged 74 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Cremated |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4386, 1st Infantry Battalion, Trainee, Sydney University Scouts. | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 4386, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Sydney | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 4386, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 14 Dec 1916: | Honoured Military Medal, 'At PETILLON on 10th/20th July, 1916, Private WHEEN, a signaller of the Battalion Headquarters showed conspicuous bravery in laying and repairing under fire the telephone line across "NO MAN'S LAND". Both N.C.O.s of this Section were casualties, and Private WHEEN attempted repeatedly to get telephone communication between Battalion Headquarters in the German trenches and Brigade Headquarters. He repeatedly crossed and recrossed "NO MAN'S LAND" under heavy fire endeavouring to establi'S LAND" in search of wounded and showed a very fine spirit in bringing in wounded under machine gun and rifle fire.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 184 | |
| 27 Aug 1917: | Honoured Military Medal and bar, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, 'At BEAULENCOURT on 17th March, 1917, during an attack by the 54th Battalion, Signaller WHEEN displayed great coolness and courage. He advanced with a leading patrol and established and maintained communication to the rear, so that full reports of operations were transmitted to Battalion Headquarters. On days previous to the advance, when the enemy shell fire had cut all lines to the Companies in the front line, Signaller WHEEN mended lines and constructed new lines under heavy enemy shell fire. Owing to the good work and devotion displayed by this man the operations before LE TRANSLOY - BAPAUME, 16th/17th March, 1917, were in a great measure helped, and communication was maintained throughout the Battalion.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 140 | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4386, 54th Infantry Battalion, Polygon Wood, SW to right hand | |
| 17 Jan 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 24 Jan 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 May 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Aug 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 6 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 54th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", GSW to left shoulder | |
| 7 Nov 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 56th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Jan 1919: | Honoured Military Medal and bar, Villers-Bretonneux, Initially DCM Recommendation April 24/25 1918 at Villers Bretonneux,under intense artillery and MG fire kept signal lines operating. Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 1 Date: 2 January 1919 | |
| 29 Sep 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 54th Infantry Battalion, 2nd MD |
Help us honour Arthur Wesley Wheen's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From the AIF Project
Lt Arthur Wesley WHEEN
Enlisted on 24th September, 1915 into 1st Infantry Battalion.
Allotted to and proceeded to join 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916. Detached to School of Instruction, Zeitoun, 1 April 1916; rejoined Bn from detachment, 23 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.
Awarded Military Medal, 12 August 1916.
Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, 14 February 1917 (pyrexia, unknown origin), and transferred same day to 5th Divisional Rest Station; discharged to duty, 21 February 1917, and rejoined Bn, in the field.
Awarded Bar to Military Medal, 3 April 1917.
Wounded in action, 26 September 1917 (shell wound, right hand); admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance, 27 September 1917, and transferred same day to 17th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train No 32, and admitted to 32nd Stationary Hospital, Wimereux; transferred to 3rd Rest Camp, 3 October 1917; to 5th Division Base Depot, Havre, 6 October 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 31 October 1917.
Appointed Lance Corporal, 17 January 1918; promoted Corporal Signaller, 24 January 1918.
On leave to United Kingdom, 23 February 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 13 March 1918.
Promoted 2nd Lieutenant, 7 May 1918.
Detached to 4th Army Signalling School, 28 April 1918.
Awarded 2nd Bar to Military Medal. 2 January 1919
Wounded in action, Peronne (second occasion), 6 September 1918 (gun shot wound, machine gun bullet from aeroplane, left shoulder), and admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance, and thence to 41st Casualty Clearing Station.
Promoted Lieutenant, 7 August 1918.
Transferred to Ambulance Train No 22, 15 September 1918, and admitted to 8th General Hospital, Rouen, 16 September 1918. Transferred to England, 18 September 1918, and admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, 19 September 1918 (seriously ill).
Transferred to 56th Bn, 11 October 1918.
Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Kanowna', 5 January 1919; arrived Sydney, 14 March 1919; discharged (medically unfit), 31 July 1920.
Discharge date: 1 July 1920
Medals: Military Medal & 2 Bars, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Post WWI
Awarded the NSW Rhodes Scholarship for 1919, he read modern history at New College, Oxford. His health broke down, and he took a third class degree. In 1924 he was appointed assistant librarian at the Victoria and Albert Musem, London, and remained there for the rest of his working life, becoming keeper of the library in 1945.
A gifted linguist he was best known in literary circles for his English translation of the works of the German writer (and First World War veteran) Erich Maria Remarque, most notably 'All Quiet on the Western Front' (1929).
Biography contributed
Arthur Wesley WHEEN was born in Sunny Bank, NSW on 9th February, 1897
His parents were Harold WHEEN & Clara Isobel Morze BLACK
He married Aldwyth LEWERS in the Registrty Office in Kensington, UK on 20th October, 1928
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