The following article was taken from the Chester Chronicle on 12 Jun 09


THREE First World War medals awarded to a Flint soldier have been presented to the town's Royal British Legion.


William Edmund Wheeler served from 1914-18 with the First Battalion-Royal Welch Fusiliers.

At the end of the war Mr Wheeler, who lived on Mount Street and later Queen's Avenue, was presented with the "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred" medals.

These were the names given to the trio of commemorative medals issued to members of British and Empire forces who took part in the Great War.


He was also presented with a thank you letter for his courage from the Lieutenant for the County of Flint, Henry Gladstone.

The medals were left to his nephew, Tom Probert, whose widow Elsie, of Kings Avenue, has now presented them to the RBL.

She said: "William was a real character but had seen the horrors of war. He was left with a steel plate in his head, two bullets were lodged in his lungs. He even suffered being gassed. He was a very brave man.

"Where would our armed service men and woman be without the Legion? They provide treatment for injured troops, homes and a pension."

Legion treasurer Richard Birch is a keen medal collector and said: "It's a great honour to receive these for safe keeping."