Editing Mortimer Wheeler (section)

===First World War: 1914–18===

{{Quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote="I cannot attempt to describe the conditions under which we are fighting. Anything I could write about them would seem exaggeration but would in reality be miles below the truth. The whole battlefield for miles is a congested mess of sodden, rain-filled shell-holes, which are being added to every moment. The mud is not so much mud as fathomless sticky morass&nbsp;... If it were not for the [[Pillbox (military)|cement pill boxes]] left by [[Boche (slur)|the Boche]], not a thing could live many hours."|source=— Wheeler, in a letter to his wife, October 1917{{sfn|Hawkes|1982|pp=57–58}} }}

After the United Kingdom's entry into [[World War I]] in 1914, Wheeler [[Recruitment to the British Army during the First World War|volunteered for the armed forces]].{{sfnm|1a1=Hawkes|1y=1982|1p=53|2a1=Carr|2y=2012|2p=83}} Although preferring solitary to group activities, Wheeler found that he greatly enjoyed soldiering,{{sfnm|1a1=Piggott|1y=1977|1p=626|2a1=Hawkes|2y=1982|2pp=55}} and on 9 November 1914 was commissioned a temporary [[second lieutenant]] in the University of London [[Officers' Training Corps|Officer Training Corps]], serving with its artillery unit as an instructor.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29045|date=19 January 1915 |page=688 |supp=y|nolink=y}}</ref>{{sfnm|1a1=Hawkes|1y=1982|1p=53|2a1=Carr|2y=2012|2p=83}} It was during this period, in January 1915, that a son was born to the Wheelers, and named Michael.{{sfn|Hawkes|1982|p=55}} [[Michael Mortimer Wheeler|Michael Wheeler]] was their only child, something that was a social anomaly at the time, although it is unknown whether or not this was by choice.{{sfn|Carr|2012|pp=82–83}} In May 1915, Wheeler transferred to the 1st Lowland Brigade of the [[Royal Field Artillery]] ([[Territorial Force]]), and was confirmed in his rank on 1 July, with a promotion to temporary [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] from the same date.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29249|date=3 August 1915 |page=7583 |supp=|nolink=y}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, on 16 July, Wheeler was promoted to temporary [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29288|date=7 September 1915 |page=8964 |supp=y|nolink=y}}</ref> In this position he was stationed at various bases across Britain, often bringing his wife and child with him; his responsibility was as a battery commander, initially of field guns and later of [[howitzer]]s.{{sfnm|1a1=Hawkes|1y=1982|1pp=55–56|2a1=Carr|2y=2012|2p=83}}

In October 1917 Wheeler was posted to the 76th Army Field Artillery Brigade, one of the [[Royal Field Artillery]] brigades under the direct control of the [[General Officer Commanding]], [[Third Army (United Kingdom)|Third Army]]. The brigade was then stationed in Belgium, where it had been engaged in the [[Battle of Passchendaele]] against German troops along the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]. By now a substantive lieutenant (temporary captain), on 7 October he was appointed second-in-command of an [[artillery battery]] with the acting rank of captain,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30325|date=5 October 1917 |page=10360 |supp=y|nolink=y}}</ref> but on 21 October became commander of a battery with the acting rank of [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30487|date=18 January 1918 |page=1077 |supp=y|nolink=y}}</ref> replacing a major who had been poisoned by [[mustard gas]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30884|date=3 September 1918 |page=10512 |supp=y|nolink=y}}</ref> He was part of the Left Group of artillery covering the advancing [[Allies of World War I|Allied]] infantry in the battle.{{sfnm|1a1=Hawkes|1y=1982|1pp=56–57|2a1=Carr|2y=2012|2p=83}} Throughout, he maintained correspondences with his wife, his sister Amy, and his parents.{{sfnm|1a1=Hawkes|1y=1982|1p=59|2a1=Carr|2y=2012|2p=85}} After the Allied victory in the battle, the brigade was transferred to Italy.{{sfn|Hawkes|1982|p=60}}

Wheeler and the brigade arrived in Italy on 20 November, and proceeded through the [[Italian Riviera]] to reach [[Caporetto]], where it had been sent to bolster the Italian troops against [[Battle of Caporetto|a German and Austro-Hungarian advance]].{{sfn|Hawkes|1982|pp=61–63}} As the [[Russian Republic]] removed itself from the war, the German Army refocused its efforts on the Western Front, so in March 1918 Wheeler's brigade was ordered to leave Italy, getting a train from [[Castelfranco Veneto|Castelfranco]] to [[Rouen|Vieux Rouen]] in France.{{sfn|Hawkes|1982|p=63}} Back on the Western Front, the brigade was assigned to the [[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Division]], again part of [[Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy|Julian Byng]]'s Third Army, reaching a stable area of the front in April. Here, Wheeler was engaged in artillery fire for several months, before the British went on the offensive in August.{{sfn|Hawkes|1982|pp=63–68}} On 24 August, between the ruined villages of Achiet and [[Sapignies]], he led an expedition that captured two German field guns while under heavy fire from a castle mound; he was later awarded the [[Military Cross]] for this action:{{sfn|Hawkes|1982|pp=69–71}}

{{Blockquote|For conspicuous gallantry and initiative. While making a reconnaissance he saw two enemy field guns limbered up without horses within 300 yards of the outpost line. He returned for two six-horse teams, and under heavy fire, in full view of the enemy, successfully brought back both guns to his battery position and turned them on the enemy. He did fine work.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31043|date=29 November 1918 |page=14268 |supp=y|nolink=y}}</ref>}}

Wheeler continued as part of the British forces pushing westward until the German surrender in November 1918,{{sfn|Hawkes|1982|pp=72–73}} receiving a [[mention in dispatches]] on 8 November.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31080|date=20 December 1918 |page=15032 |supp=y|nolink=y}}</ref> He was not demobilised for several months, instead being stationed at [[Pulheim]] in Germany until March; during this time he wrote up his earlier research on Romano-Rhenish pottery, making use of access to local museums, before returning to London in July 1919.{{sfnm|1a1=Hawkes|1y=1982|1pp=73–74|2a1=Carr|2y=2012|2p=86}} Reverting to his permanent rank of lieutenant on 16 September,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31609|date=17 October 1919 |page=12882 |supp=y|nolink=y}}</ref> Wheeler was finally discharged from service on 30 September 1921, retaining the rank of major.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=32521|date=15 November 1921 |page=9141 |supp=y|nolink=y}}</ref>