Rifleman Francis Wheatley

VC, DCM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BORN: 1822, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, England. Francis was the son of Martha Thompson and Francis Wheatley, who married at the Parish Church in Ruddington.

His father was a frame work knitter, a trade that Francis took up before joining the army. He enlisted in Daventry on the 5^th November, 1839, for a bounty of £3.17.6pence.

SERVED: 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consorts Own). He served in Malta, the Ionian Islands, and the Cape of Good Hope. This period he served with the Battalion in 1846–1847 during The South African War (Kaffirs). The 1851 census states that he was back in the Dover Heights Barracks, Dover, Kent.

 Once again serving in 1852 -1853 during the South African Wars (Kaffir), he then sailed with the 1^st Battalion and arrived in the Crimea on 14^th September 1854, and stayed until the 5^th June 1855. He was present at the Battles of Alma, Inkerman, and the siege of Sebastopol. On the day before his VC action, Francis was commended, and later awarded the DCM for his gallant conduct in the trenches outside the strongly fortified triangular earthworks occupied by the Russians at Redan, Sebastopol.

The Census of 1861 shows that he was in North Base Rifle Brigade camp, Farnborough, Surrey, along with his wife, M Wheatley from Scotland, who was 30 years of age. In April 1861, he was discharged from the army after almost 22 years service.

Francis then went on to work for Sir William Cope Bt, a former Officer in The Rifles, at his home at Bramshill Park, Hampshire.

DATE OF GAZETTE: 4TH FEBRUARY 1857

CITATION: On the 12th October 1854, Private Wheatley and some other riflemen were occupying a section of the trenches before Sebastopol, when a live Russian shell fell amongst the men. Without hesitation Private Wheatley seized hold of the shell and endeavored to knock the fuse out with the butt of his rifle. He was unsuccessful at the first attempt and so with great presence of mind and deliberation he managed somehow to heave the shell over the parapet of the trench. It had scarcely fallen outside when it exploded. Had it not been for his coolness, supreme courage and discipline, the shell would have inevitably exploded amongst the party causing serious casualties and death, but instead not one man was hurt. His Victoria Cross was presented by Queen Victoria in person at the first investiture at Hyde Park, London, on 26th June 1857.

DIED: 21^st May 1865, at the Westminster Hospital, London, from acute Myelitis.

BURIED: Brompton Cemetery, London. He was buried in a common grave.

 On the 30^th March 2001, his grave was marked with a memorial stone set flat into the ground. This is located in section B as you stand in the cemetery looking at the lodge. His grave is located in the left hand corner, a few feet back from the railings.

The VC: is displayed at The Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester, England.

Investiture: Francis received his VC at the very first investiture in Hyde Park, London, on the 26^th June 1857. It was presented by Queen Victoria in person, along with presentations to 61 other recipients of this most prestigious award.

During the Crimean War, 111 VC’s were awarded; 8 to the Rifle Brigade (8.8%). All 8 received the VC on the same day.

Medal entitlement of Rifleman Francis Wheatley VC, DCM.

Victoria Cross

Crimea War Medal with 3 clasps

Turkish War Medal

French Legion d’Honour

GCM (Good Conduct Medal)

South African Medal

Long Service Medal

 

 

 

Memorials to Francis Wheatley VC, DCM

Memorial plaque laid flat on grave on 30^th March, 2001.

Plaque unveiling ceremony in Memory of Francis Wheatley VC

St.Peter’s Rooms, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, September 2004.

Tree Planting Ceremony to Honour Francis Wheatley VC

St.Peter’s School, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, November 2004

Name inscribed on Nottingham & Nottingham Victoria Cross Memorial in the grounds of Nottingham Castle

7^th May 2010