Museum forgot it had hero’s Victoria Cross hidden in files
A VICTORIA Cross awarded to a First World War hero has been discovered after it was lost in a museum.
Major George Godfrey Massy Wheeler was posthumously awarded the medal for bravery while leading his squadron into battle in 1915.
It was kept by his widow until she died in the 1950s and then donated to the Royal Pavilion and Museums in Brighton.
But the Victoria Cross became lost among other memorabilia and although staff were aware they had Major Wheeler’s other medals, they did not realise they had his most distinguished award.
During a search for items to display last year to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War, staff were astonished to find the medal.
Andy Maxted, curator of the museum, said: “When we found the Cross we were delighted as it is such a great piece of history from World War One.
“We had been going through all of our collections to find interesting objects to tell stories of World War One and we were searching our database when we came across references to the VC.
“We immediately went to storage to find it and were delighted when we came across it. It appears although it was on our database, we were not specifically aware that we had it.
“We received it from Major Wheeler’s widow in the 1950s and have had it in storage ever since. It’s in very good condition so we’re hoping to put it on display.”
We received it from Major Wheeler’s widow in the 1950s and have had it in storage ever since. It’s in very good condition so we’re hoping to put it on display
Gary Stapleton, chairman of the Victoria Cross Trust, said: “It’s brilliant that it has been found after all this time.”
Major Wheeler was awarded the Victoria Cross while serving with the 7th Hariana Lancers, Indian Army.
On April 15, 1915, he led his squadron to capture a flag at the centre of a group of enemy soldiers firing on his troops in Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq.
The citation on the Cross reads: “He was seen far ahead of his men riding single-handed straight for the enemy’s standards.”
Major Wheeler, whose widow lived in Hove, is buried in Basra cemetery, Iraq, with more than 2,550 other British and Commonwealth troops.
It is hoped the medal could go on display at the Victoria Cross Trust’s new museum at Ashworth Barracks, Doncaster.
