South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 17 April 1943
Military Medallist
Gunner John Denis Wheeliker (22), fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. George Wheeliker, of 16, Wheatley Street, Denaby Main, has been awarded the Military Medal for services with the Eighth Army in the pursuit of the Afrika Korps.
Gunner Wheeliker’s father is also a Military Medallist, having gained the award during the last war, in which he served with distinction in the infantry, attaining the rank of acting Captain. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeliker have five sons in the Forces.
Gunner Wheeliker was in the Territorials before the war and went into the Royal Artillery on the outbreak of war. He was involved in the Dunkirk evacuation and later was sent out to the Middle East, where he has spent nearly two years. He was previously a miner at Denaby Colliery. One of his brothers is serving with the Royal Engineers in the Middle East.
Mr. and Mrs. Wheeliker received a letter from John this week dated March 12th but he made no mention in it of the award or of any incident which may have earned it.
The citation reveals that when an A.A. gun crew were blown off their gun during a Stuka attack Gunner Wheeliker returned and immediately resumed firing until the raider was driven off.