Norman Wheeler

Major-General (Thomas) Norman (Samuel) Wheeler CB CBE (16 June 1915 – 21 September 1990) was a British Army officer who commanded 2nd Division.

Military career

Educated at Water Kloof House in South Africa, St Helen's College in Southsea and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst,^[1] Wheeler was commissioned into the Royal Ulster Rifles in 1935.^[2] He served as an Intelligence Officer with 2 Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in Palestine from 1937 to 1939.^[2] He took part in World War II as Brigade Major of 38th Irish Brigade before serving with the Special Operations Executive running operations in Albania and then returning to his regiment to fight in North West Europe.^[1]

After the War he became Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General for 6th Airborne Division in Palestine.^[2] He was appointed Military Assistant to Adjutant-General to the Forces in 1949, a member of the UK Services Liaison Staff in Australia in 1951 and a member of the General Staff at Headquarters Northern Army Group in 1954.^[2] He was made Commanding Officer of 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles and deployed as part of the response to the EOKA campaign in Cyprus in 1958.^[2] He went on to be commander of 39th Infantry Brigade at Lisburn in 1959, Chief of Staff of 1 (British) Corps in Germany in 1962 and General Officer Commanding 2nd Division in 1964.^[2] His last appointments were as Chief of Staff for Contingencies Planning at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe from 1966 and as Chief of Staff at British Army of the Rhine Headquarters from 1969 before retiring in 1971.^[2]

In retirement he became Deputy Managing Director of Associated Independent Stores.^[1]

Family

In 1939 he married Helen Clifford; they had one son and one daughter.^[1] He was brother to Air Chief Marshall Sir Neil Wheeler and father of General Sir Roger Wheeler.^[1]

References