THE VICTORIA CROSS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO MAJOR GEORGE WHEELER, 7TH HARIANA LANCERS, HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN THE ROYAL PAVILION AND MUSEUMS IN BRIGHTON.
14 January 2015

It was whilst searching for memorabilia to commemorate the Centenary of the start of the First World War that the staff of the Royal Pavilion and Museums in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, found in their archives the posthumous Victoria Cross awarded to Major George Godfrey Wheeler of the 7th Hariana Lancers, Indian Army.

Accompanying the Victoria Cross were the campaign medals awarded to George Wheeler including a set of miniatures. The museum's records show that the Victoria Cross medal group was donated to Brighton's Royal Pavilion and Museums in 1950 following the death of George Wheeler's widow who was living in Brighton at the time.

My thanks to the Curator and staff of the Royal Pavilion and Museums, Brighton & Hove, for permission to use the images of the George Wheeler Victoria Cross group.



( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Major George Godfrey Wheeler,
7th Hariana Lancers, Indian Army

  • Victoria Cross
  • India Medal ( 1895-1902 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Punjab Frontier 1897-98" - "Waziristan 1901-2"
  • India General Service Medal ( 1908-35 )
    • 1 clasp:
    • "North West Frontier 1908"
  • 1914-15 Star
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 1 September 1915 ], Shaiba, Mesopotamia ( Iraq ), 12 April 1915, Major George Godfrey Massy Wheeler, 7th Hariana Lancers, Indian Army.

For most conspicuous bravery at Shaiba, Mesopotamia. On the 12th April 1915, Major Wheeler asked permission to take out his Squadron and attempt to capture a flag, which was the centre point of a group of the enemy who were firing on one of our picquets.

He advanced and attacked the enemy’s infantry with the Lance, doing considerable execution among them. He then retired while the enemy swarmed out of hidden ground and formed an excellent target to our Royal Horse Artillery guns.

On the 13th April 1915, Major Wheeler led his Squadron to the attack of the "North Mound". He was seen far ahead of his men riding single-handed, straight for the enemy’s standards. This gallant Officer was killed on the Mound.


George Wheeler was killed following his Victoria Cross action and is buried in the Basra War Cemetery, Mesopotamia ( now Iraq ).

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Iain Stewart, 14 January 2015