Vietnam War Victoria Cross Recipient. Wheatley was educated at Maroubra Junction Junior Technical School. He enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on June 12, 1956 and served in Malaya between for two years between 1957 and 1959. In January 1964, he was promoted sergeant and in August became a temporary warrant officer class two. He was known in the Army as 'Dasher' and was well-liked and respected. In March 1965, he joined the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam and spent six months with a Vietnamese battalion in Quang Tri province where he distinguished himself under fire. In October with five other Australian training team members he was posted to Quang Ngai province. On November 13, on a search and destroy mission in Tra Bong valley a Civil Irregular Defence Group platoon broke in the face of heavy fire and began to scatter. When another Australian, Warrant Officer R. J. Swanton was shot in the chest, Wheatley refused to leave him although he had been mortally wounded. Under fire, Wheatley half-dragged and half-carried Swanton out of open rice paddies into the comparative safety of nearby jungle. He again refused to withdraw and was last seen pulling the pins from his two grenades. Shortly afterwards two grenade explosions were heard, followed by several bursts of fire. Wheatley and Swanton were found dead from gunshot wounds at first light next morning. Wheatley was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for refusing to abandon a wounded comrade in the face of overwhelming odds. He was buried with full military honours in Pinegrove Memorial Park, Sydney, survived by his wife and their four children. His Victoria Cross and other medals are on permanent display at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Vietnam War Victoria Cross Recipient. Wheatley was educated at Maroubra Junction Junior Technical School. He enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on June 12, 1956 and served in Malaya between for two years between 1957 and 1959. In January 1964, he was promoted sergeant and in August became a temporary warrant officer class two. He was known in the Army as 'Dasher' and was well-liked and respected. In March 1965, he joined the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam and spent six months with a Vietnamese battalion in Quang Tri province where he distinguished himself under fire. In October with five other Australian training team members he was posted to Quang Ngai province. On November 13, on a search and destroy mission in Tra Bong valley a Civil Irregular Defence Group platoon broke in the face of heavy fire and began to scatter. When another Australian, Warrant Officer R. J. Swanton was shot in the chest, Wheatley refused to leave him although he had been mortally wounded. Under fire, Wheatley half-dragged and half-carried Swanton out of open rice paddies into the comparative safety of nearby jungle. He again refused to withdraw and was last seen pulling the pins from his two grenades. Shortly afterwards two grenade explosions were heard, followed by several bursts of fire. Wheatley and Swanton were found dead from gunshot wounds at first light next morning. Wheatley was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for refusing to abandon a wounded comrade in the face of overwhelming odds. He was buried with full military honours in Pinegrove Memorial Park, Sydney, survived by his wife and their four children. His Victoria Cross and other medals are on permanent display at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Bio by: Anthony Staunton
Inscription
AUST. ARMY TRAINING
TEAM, VIETNAM
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