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A poppy engraved street sign of Wheeler Road.
Screen grab from Google Maps
In honour of our soldiers: Arthur Edward Wheeler
Published 12:08 PDT, Wed April 9, 2025
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In a series about Richmond’s poppy street signs, in memory of our fallen soldiers, we share the story of Wheeler Road.
Arthur Edward Wheeler was born on Sept. 7, 1886 in London England, he was one of three children, as he had two sisters.
On Nov. 16, 1914, Wheeler enlisted in Vancouver, joining the 29th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He had experience prior, as he had been a member of the Oxford Light Infantry of the British Army for two years. Four months later, Wheeler would arrive in England aboard the RMS Missambie. He trained for six months as a bomb thrower, being penalized four days of pay total for being absent without leave from camp.
Upon completion of his training as a bomb thrower, Wheeler and those qualified in the battalion reached France on Sept. 17, 1915. 13 months later, Wheeler was injured and needed to be hospitalized, spending months in England. He was then transferred to the Canada Reserve Battalions at Seaford Camp and would return to France on his 33rd birthday, rejoining the 29th Battalion.
Seven months later, Wheeler would be severely injured, being buried by a shell explosion that resulted in another trip to the hospital.
Wheeler would be transported to the Princess Military Hospital immediately after the incident, before being transferred again to a hospital in Orpington, Kent, as he nursed major injuries from the explosion including paralysis.
Tragically, on April 23, 1918, Wheeler succumbed to his injuries and was survived by his sister Mrs. Bibb, of Gray’s Inn Road, according to his listed next of kin.
In a will dated April 1917, his personal estates, should he not return home were to be divided between his two sisters, Mrs. Bibb of Gray’s Inn Road, London and Mrs. Lucy Sheppard. To their surprise, a following will dated September 1917, indicated that Wheeler wanted his personal belongings and property to be given to Mrs. A.E. Robson of Tooting, London. A plaque and scroll were sent to Mrs. Lucy Sheppard for his efforts.
In 1954, a letter was submitted to the City Council suggesting the Wheeler’s name be included in the list of street signs with a poppy on them. On Dec. 6, 1954, the Richmond City Council made the decision to adopt a road name after Arthur Edward Wheeler for his valiant effort. Wheeler Road can be found near the intersection of Francis Road and St. Albans Road.
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