Osmund Julius Wheatley
Captain
10th Battalion
In Search of Adventure
Tucked among the rolling hills of southern England is the quaint but still sizeable town of Biggleswade, its name reflecting kindly on its caricature. Among its brick buildings and paved streets developed a close-knit community in which people often remained for a lifetime. Yet in the sheltered town the spirit of adventure was still kindled in a sharp featured 17-year-old resident, Osmund Wheatley. The son of a watchmaker, he had begun to practice his father’s trade but a desire for excitement pushed him to enlist in the local 3rd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. For four years the youth honed his skill in drill and discipline, though his father no doubt hoped he would remain in the family profession. Yet the mere taste of adventure was not enough and the flame that had been kindled took off when the 22-year-old bid his parents and 9 siblings farewell, departing for Canada in 1902.
The whistling western wind and the endless flat fields of Saskatchewan greeted the new imposing 6’ Royal Northwest Mounted Policeman, Osmund, who arrived to take up his post in the rural town of Forget, Saskatchewan in 1905 (1). His desire for excitement had brought him to the still developing west, carefully watching over the growing town of French nuns and immigrant farmers. The stillness of the prairie and freedom it provided to its residents was something the young Englishman valued, becoming a major proponent in the protection of all those who called it home. In the following years he was posted to the border town of Weyburn, helping to develop the community’s local military formation, the 20th Battalion Border horse Militia, in which he served as a Lieutenant (1). The volunteer assembly of western horsemen helped ensure the U.S. Canada border was respected and could be called upon to respond to any dangers the community might face.
Balkan Wars & Prospecting
In 1912, a mature 32-year-old Osmund returned to England for vacation (1). Yet the trip was quickly cut short when the first Balkan War broke out, the adventurous military-man quickly dropping his plans and volunteering in the Red Cross (1). Appointed to the rank of Sergeant-Major, he quickly departed to the Balkans, arriving in Bulgaria where the combined Slavic armies were attempting to throw the Ottoman Empire out of Europe (1). It was here Osmund was first introduced to the realities of modern conflict, rifle and artillery fire echoing through the mountainous landscape as each side attempted to inflict severe casualties on each other. Thousands of men were horribly maimed by shrapnel and bullets, the Red Cross attempting to assist in ensuring they were cared for and that prisoners were treated humanely (2). Yet in such a conflict involving ethnic hatred, there often was minimal cooperation until the guns had ceased in early 1913 (2). Osmund spent his tour attached to two Bulgarian units and was presented with a medal from Ferdinand I, the monarch of the nation (3).
Once again, he returned to the quiet prairies of Saskatchewan, but would not remain there, the continuing Klondike Gold Rush catching his attention. Before long, he was off to the Yukon and Alaska, working to find his fortune as part of a lucrative prospecting scheme (4). The unforgiving cold and mosquito filled summers tested the willpower and endurance of the rugged prospector, his blue-eyes witnessing parts of the country that were practically untouched by the hands of man. Though he did not find his fortune in gold, he did find something of greater value, falling in love with a gal by the name of Alberta Cochran. The renowned lady was a direct descendent of the famed Admiral Nelson, having been born in Ontario but raised in California (5). She had since become a frontier woman, helping to establish the first hospital in Nome, Alaska and working to build more in the rugged interior (5). Osmund had become involved in these efforts, falling for the widowed adventurer, who bore a spirit equal to his own. In late 1913, he managed to convince her to marry, and they subsequently road by horse from their rural prospecting camp in central Alaska to the interior of British Columbia in search of the first minister who could marry them on Canadian soil (5).
Ypres & Festubert
Despite their remote location, the news of the world still eventually reached them, with the couple finding out about the outbreak of the Great War. For Osmund, it wasn’t a choice but a duty to return to serve, Alberta understood this and departed to California to stay with her family, well Osmund made the dangerous journey back to Saskatchewan via horseback. He arrived in his former home of Weyburn and enlisted in the 32nd Battalion on December 29th, 1914. His prior experience was unmatched, and he was appointed as a Lieutenant, departing with the 2nd Canadian contingent to England.
The young officer landed in his home country in April and was quickly plucked from the ranks and sent to France as a replacement for the 10th Battalion. Osmund joined the Calgary formation on the 1st of May 1915 well they were in the trenches of Ypres. He had plenty of experience in the military and had seen the face of war, yet what awaited him here was beyond human imagination. The Battalion endured the misery of the trenches, constant artillery fire, and feared the newest cruel invention employed, poison gas, which had devastated them a few months earlier (6). This intense trench rotation did allow the fresh Lieutenant to quickly become a veteran of the Battalion and he emerged from the trenches just as covered in dirt and grime as the others. A short period of refitting and training followed as attempts were made to bring the thinned Battalion back to fighting strength (6).
This rest period was only a few days and on May 18th, Osmund led his men into the line near Rue L’Epinette, Festubert (6). The Battalion was to go on the attack, the only issue being that the Germans were well aware of this and immediately began showering them with masses of shells (6). The biggest threat was clearly the position dubbed ‘K.5 rebout’ that sat to the left of their trench line and allowed the Germans to pick off the men even when they were taking cover (6). A plan was devised to wipe out the enemy in this position and on May 20th a heavy bombardment of artillery was laid upon it. A portion of the Battalion then made a direct charge against it, which resulted in a withdrawal and many good Canadian soldiers lying dead upon the field (6). The men of the 10th desired revenge and the Officers devised a plan to split the Battalion into two and to attack again the following day (6). A heavy artillery bombardment once again hammered the German defenders and two Companies of the Battalion, bolstered with men from a ‘grenade company’, made their bid to take the position under the cover of the night (6). The first company ran directly into machine gun fire and was nearly wiped out (6). The other company managed to make it through and drove out the Germans, capturing their advantageous position (6). This victory was only celebrated for a short time as their foe began launching counterattacks immediately after, which continued throughout the night (6).
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During this action, Osmund was leading his men when a grenade exploded and hit him in the right side of the head. The concussion knocked him out cold and left him badly maimed, his men removing him from the battlefield likely thinking he was dead. By some miracle, the tough Englishman would return to consciousness after 15 hours of being out, though he was concussed and badly wounded. He was among the 18 of the Battalions Officers and 250 of its enlisted men wounded well successfully taking and holding K.5 rebout that day (6).
Protecting Western Canada
Some two months of intensive recovery at the Cambridge Research Hospital saw Osmund at least return to some level of being able to function. He suffered from memory loss, headaches, some loss of movement in his left leg and arm, and partial loss of hearing in his right ear. Taken together, this certainly warranted an honorable discharge, yet the rugged frontiersman would have none of it. The army managed to convince him to return to Canada, but he continued to serve. He spent the summer of 1916 teaching soldiers to operate machine guns at Camp Hughes in Manitoba (7). Following this brief assignment, he was promoted to Captain and put in charge of the Special Service Company of the Manitoba Military District (7). The position required his utmost attention, and he was consistently busy. Part of his duties included the management of the cadet program, which he most respected, feeling it gave young boys a purpose and sense of discipline (8). He also became an early member of the Great War Veterans Association, boldly taking a stand with his fellow Manitoba Delegates to lobby for organizational changes (9).
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The combat veteran officer felt that the organization needed a system to respect the degree in which a soldier had served, with those wounded in combat theatres given the most benefits well ensuring those who had served with honor on the homefront were still respected (9). Osmund understood the importance of these organizations in helping veterans, having suffered with severe sleeplessness long after his time in France, not to mention his horrible wounds. At a meeting of the GWVA delegates, he would walkout on these points and even suggested that perhaps a different organization be created, which one day would happen (9).
Following his final discharge in 1920, the weary soldier tried to place the war behind him, returning to prospecting with his wife Alberta in northern British Columbia. The couple would open a store in Vanderhoof, but it and the prospecting proved unsustainable, the two relocating to Smithers (10). Alberta would setup a clothing store while Osmund took a job as a trainman for the Canadian National Railway (10). Given his credentials and background, it is no surprise the CNR pushed him to take a position as a policeman in Vancouver, which he accepted (10). This would result in a long career working as an investigator for the CNR dealing with every occurrence from strikes to saboteurs (1). The former military Captain retired as the head of the CNR police for all of British Columbia in 1948 (1). Even at 68 years of age he still desired excitement, becoming president of the local Legion and writing extensively about Global Politics for the local newspaper (4).
Sources:
(1) CN Police Head Here Honored On Retirement, Vancouver Sun. (1948, April 23).
(2) The Balkan Wars (1912-1913), International Committee of the Red Cross, https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/resources/documents/misc/57jnvy.htm
(3) An Old Townsman of Whom Biggleswade is Proud, Major O. J. Wheatly of the Canadian Army
(4) Funeral for Captain O. J. Wheatley Held Saturday, Langley Advance. (1967, November 23).
(5) Alaskan Pioneer Lost in Mrs. Wheatley's Death, Langley Advance. (1959, February 26).
(6) Holland, J. A. (n.d.). The Story of the 10th Battalion. Retrieved April 11, 2021, from http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/writing/10th.htm
(7) Captain O. J. Wheatley Appointed To Command Special Service Company, The Leader Post. (1916, November 28).
(8) Capt Wheatley Explains Cadet Corps' Objectives, Winnipeg Tribune. (1919, April 26).
(9) Vets Breach Widens, Westerners Firm, Toronto Daily Star. (1918, August 1).
(10) Former Smithers Resident Dies, The Interior News (1959, March 5).
(1) CN Police Head Here Honored On Retirement, Vancouver Sun. (1948, April 23).
(2) The Balkan Wars (1912-1913), International Committee of the Red Cross, https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/resources/documents/misc/57jnvy.htm
(3) An Old Townsman of Whom Biggleswade is Proud, Major O. J. Wheatly of the Canadian Army
(4) Funeral for Captain O. J. Wheatley Held Saturday, Langley Advance. (1967, November 23).
(5) Alaskan Pioneer Lost in Mrs. Wheatley's Death, Langley Advance. (1959, February 26).
(6) Holland, J. A. (n.d.). The Story of the 10th Battalion. Retrieved April 11, 2021, from http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/writing/10th.htm
(7) Captain O. J. Wheatley Appointed To Command Special Service Company, The Leader Post. (1916, November 28).
(8) Capt Wheatley Explains Cadet Corps' Objectives, Winnipeg Tribune. (1919, April 26).
(9) Vets Breach Widens, Westerners Firm, Toronto Daily Star. (1918, August 1).
(10) Former Smithers Resident Dies, The Interior News (1959, March 5).