Arnold Wheeldon

Photos courtesy of his son John Wheeldon who provides the following information:

Arnold was born in 1916 in Cheadle, Cheshire. After school he joined Boots as a trainee pharmacist , but the war intervened. He enlisted as a guardsman with the Coldstream Guards. He then volunteered for the Commandos joining No 6 Commando. Arnold was a Lance Corporal in 6 Troop and later the HQ of No 6 Commando. He was in the first wave on D Day and marched across country to relieve the paratroopers at Pegasus Bridge and to liberate the first house in France at Cafe Gondree – now owned by Arlette who sat on Arnold’s knee as a 3 year old on D Day. It meant a lot to me when I visited Normandy with Arnold 60 years later and met Arlette, and later Bernard who was a 17 year old when No 6 Commando were based at his farm through much of the fighting for Normandy (His Calvados was justifiably famous). Arnold was then sent for officer training. In India he trained with John Slim son of General Slim (whom he later served under in Burma). He was promoted Captain and when the war ended he was put in charge of a ship full of Ghurkhas for the trip back to England – he retained a great admiration and love for Ghurkhas and India throughout his life. Back in England he married Effie in 1947 and became a successful businessman. Arnold passed away on the 28th September 2012

Posted by Pete R. who adds "Arnold's full name was Charles Arnold Wheeldon, however everyone knew him as Arnold. In addition to the above his obituary records "In the weeks after D-Day, Wheeldon produced a news-sheet, The Slit-Trench Sentinel, which gave the latest information about the progress of the landings on the other beaches." For many years Arnold was an active member of the London branch of the former Commando Association. Eric Buckmaster of No.2 Commando and Jim Petrie of No.6 Commando attended Arnold's funeral".