Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1913-1920 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
7.5 cm of textual records
1 banner flag, 35.5 x 21cm
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Earl Gilbert Wheeler was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 22, 1899 and later moved to 190 James Street in Belleville, Ontario. His father Fred Wheeler worked in a local mill and was married to Ada Maude Wheeler and had one other son, Ray.
A student at the outset of the war, Earl enlisted in the Cobourg Heavy Battery at the age of eighteen in April 23, 1917 after serving three years in the Cadet Corps. After an initial period of training in Cobourg, he departed from Halifax in June of that year to begin training at Otterpool Camp in England. He was later relocated to Ross Barracks at Shornecliffe Camp before finally transferring to Whitley Camp before departing for France on February 1, 1918. While in France he served in both the 1st Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column as well as the 5th Division Trench Mortars.
While attached to the Y Battery of the 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade on September 2, 1918, Gunner Wheeler was wounded in combat and later presumed dead. Despite no official record of his death at the time of the incident, a search of casualties and prisoners of war turned up no evidence of his survival. His service number was 2327329.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds consists of records pertaining to Earl Gilbert Wheeler of the 13th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force. The folders are composed of personal letters to Gunner Wheeler's friends and family written while he was stationed at various posts throughout World War I. It also includes financial documents, educational certificates and other professional and personal papers. In addition to these records, documents containing correspondence about his injury, the search for his whereabouts, as well as his death certificate.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
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Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
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Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
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Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
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Description control area
Description identifier
earl-wheeler-fonds
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Entered by Nicholas VanExan, June 23, 2015.
Language(s)
- English