United Kingdom. An Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Type II, to Battery Quartermaster Sergeant Samuel Wheeler, 5th Brigade, 1st Scottish Division, Royal Artillery

(20144. By. Qr.Mr. Sgt. S. WHEELER. 5/1. SCO: DIV: R.A.). Naming is engraved in italic capitals. Contact marks, edge nicks, replacement ribbon wrapped around a cardboard frame, very fine. Accompanied by a typewritten biography of Wheeler. 

Footnote: Samuel Wheeler was born in the Parish of Landport, near Portsmouth, Hampshire. He enlisted with the Royal Artillery at Gosport, Hampshire on March 6, 1871, at the age of 18, stating his religion as Wesleyan and his trade as that of Servant, beginning his service as a Gunner (2426) with the 12th Brigade, Royal Artillery on March 7, 1871. He achieved a Second Class Certificate of Education on September 15, 1873. He was a Bombardier with the 10th Brigade as of September 18, 1878 and re-engaged at Malta to complete 21 years' service on December 9, 1881. He was a Bombardier with the 1st Brigade, 7th Lancashire Division, Royal Artillery, as of April 1, 1882. One year later, he was a Bombardier with the 1st Brigade, 5th Lancashire Division, Royal Artillery, as of April 26, 1883. Wheeler was promoted to the rank of Corporal on September 4, 1883 and passed a short course at the School of Gunnery on October 12, 1883. Corporal Wheeler was transferred to the 1st Brigade, London (Depot) Division and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on January 1, 1886. Sergeant Wheeler (new service number: 20144) was transferred to the 5th Brigade, 1st Scottish Division, Royal Artillery on September 16, 1886. He was promoted to Battery Quartermaster Sergeant on April 1, 1887. Upon the reorganization of the 5th Brigade, 1st Scottish Division, Royal Artillery, the unit became known as the 5th Brigade, 1st Scots Battalion, Royal Artillery, with Wheeler becoming a Battery Quartermaster. Sergeant Wheeler was with 5 Battery, Eastern Division, Royal Artillery as of July 1, 1889 (later known as 5th Eastern Division). He was discharged at Sheerness on May 31, 1893, with his character stated as "Very Good". His total service as of May 31, 1893 was 22 years and 86 days: England (March 7, 1871 - October 3, 1873); Malta (October 4, 1873 - March 23, 1882); Gibraltar (March 24, 1882 to May 5, 1883); Home (May 6, 1883 - May 31, 1893). Battery Quartermaster Sergeant Samuel Wheeler was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal without gratuity, having never been involved in a campaign. In his personal life, he married Flora Lester West at Woolwich on June 29, 1885 and they had one child, Frederick George Wheeler (born  May 11, 1888), Wheeler himself having a brother, Henry, who was serving in the Royal Navy.