Ronald Gladwell Wheen

First Name: 
Ronald (some documents use Roland)
Middle Name: 
Gladwell
Last Name: 
Wheen
Alternate Spelling: 
Roland on some papers
Mother's Name: 
Clara Wheen nee Black
Father's Name: 
Harold Wheen
Date Enlisted: 
Wednesday, February 14, 1917
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Trooper
Unit: 
2nd Light Horse Regiment
Company: 
Machine Gun Section
Service: 
Cavalry
Awards: 
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Monday, August 8, 1966
Details: 

Ronald Wheen (Service No 3269) was born in Jamberoo, N.S.W. in 1899, one of eleven children.  He was the last of three brothers to enlist, his brothers Harold and Arthur enlisting in 1915 (see below for additional information).

Ronald came from a prominent family. His father was a religious educator with the Methodist Church serving at Kiama when Ronald was born, before moving to Roseville in Sydney. 

Ronald enlisted when he was 18 years old, single, and employed as a station hand.

He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT A42 Boorara on 10th May 1917 with 26th Reinforcements, 7th Light Horse and arrived in Egypt on 20th June 1917.  Ronald saw service in the Middle East with 2nd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron.

On 6th November 1917 he was fighting near Beersheeba when he was wounded in action.  Shot in the head he was initially left for dead as his horse and a comrade were killed.  He was evacuated to hospital dangerously ill but eventually his condition improved and he was returned to Australia in December 1917 and discharged medically unfit on 1st March 1918.

Ronald died in 1966.

Ronald's two older brothers Harold & Arthur enlisted in 1915. Harold Wheen (Service No 10620) enlisted in October 1915 and served as a Lance Corporal; he was commissioned in the Army Service Corps and returned to Australia.

Arthur Wheen (Service no 3486) enlisted in September 1915 and served as a signaller with 54th Battalion.  Arthur was awarded the Military Medal with 2 Bars. He served at Fromelles with distinction and was finally wounded in action in September 1918 after being commissioned.  He returned to Australia and was the NSW Rhodes Scholar for 1919.  Arthur was the first to translate the German War Novel, All Quiet on the Western Front from German to English.  During the war Arthur Wheen was close friends with William Pratt from Wollongong.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, WHEEN RONALD GLADWELL

Comments

I have a grainy photo of him if you want it.

Thank you for your feedback David.

In order for us to view your image you will need to open an account (refer to home page) and upload your image of Ronald Wheen.  We can then look at it and if it is not too grainy/ pixelated we would be very happy to attach it to this profile.