WHEELWRIGHT, Gilbert

Gilbert Wheelwright was the son of Harry and Emma Wheelwright of King William Street, Amblecote. He was a young conscript who was killed in the 1918 Battle of the Aisne, the final German effort to achieve victory. He had been sent to the 22nd Battalion of the Durhams, which was the Pioneer Battalion of the 8th Division who were obliged to face both the March and April Spring offensives of the German army on the Somme and the Lys. Both assaults were eventually stopped but only after long retreats and serious losses. The Division was then sent to the quiet sector near Reims to recover, just when the fourth German offensive was launched on the Aisne. Once again the exhausted and overwhelmed British forces fell back with more losses. The climax came on the 29th May when the Durhams – and the 1st Worcesters with other units – stood their ground at Lhèry and the Montagne de Bligny until the German efforts faded. Private Gilbert Wheelwright was killed on that day but long term success had been assured, He was 18 years of age and is commemorated on the Soissons and Amblecote Memorials.