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805450 75th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)
Frank Wheeler (registered as Thomas Frank) was born on 7 August 1891, the son of Edward and Martha Ann Wheeler (née Skingle), of 1 High Street, Lavenham. His father had a butcher’s shop in Lavenham. Prior to moving to Lavenham the family had lived in Sudbury, part of a well-known Sudbury family who originally owned furniture and grocery businesses in Melford Road.
Frank had five brothers and three sisters. His brothers all served in the army. Edward, known as Ted, closed his butcher’s shop in Sudbury to join the Royal Garrison Artillery. After the war he re-opened the shop in North Street. Fred enlisted in 1916, he lost his life serving with the Royal Fusiliers. Percy Harold joined the Queen’s Regiment in 1916. After the war he had a butcher’s shop in Colchester. Alfred enlisted in the Essex Regiment in September 1914, and was posted missing in 1917 but turned up safe and well nineteen days later. He was also wounded twice and suffered from trench fever. After the war he had a butchery business but he gave it up to become a chef. Harry Victor enlisted in 1917 and saw action in France. After the war he took over the butcher’s shop in Lavenham.
According to a report Frank ‘gave up a bright and promising career at duty’s call and joined the colours in 1915’. At the age of 20 Frank was boarding in South Street in Romford along with other provision store assistants. He emigrated to Canada ‘to seek a life with wider horizons’. Following family tradition he was made a Freeman of Sudbury around 1916.
Frank had only been in France for two months. On New Year’s Day a party of thirteen soldiers including Frank was sent out to repair a trench that had been damaged in the previous night’s bombardment. A shell hit the men leaving nine killed or fatally wounded. Frank told a friend who went to help him ‘They’ve got me this time’.
Frank was killed in action on 1 January 1917 aged 26 and lies buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St. Eloi. Pas de Calais, France. A Cross of Remembrance was laid by his grave in June 2015.
Frank is also remembered in the Books of Remembrance in the Memorial Chamber in the Peace Tower, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Canada and on the Lavenham War Memorial.
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