Arthur Octavious Wheeler - Farmer and Supportive Uncle
Arthur Octavious (Octavius in some spellings) was the eighth of the ten children born to Anna and John Wheeler at Titi Farm, Mauku.
Arthur served on the Western Front, France during the First World War (Copy of his Military Record here) and spent time at the Sling camp in Wiltshire, and a spell in Tidworth Hospital due to first having the measles (Rubella) and then again when he had diptheria. His name is on the Roll of Honour at Ngatea Memorial Hall.
He had a farm opposite his brother Tom's on the Hauraki Plains and returned after the war to find it had gone into debt while he was away. He shelved his hopes of marrying a Scottish girl he met while serving overseas because he felt he could not offer his wife a proper home.
He farmed the rest of his days on the Plains.
He is described by the family as a quiet man who was an excellent judge of horses and while like his brother Ernest he loved to place a bet he would only back horses he could watch beforehand to assess their form.
He never married but like his sister Gertrude took an interest in his nephews' future, for example assisting his sister Lottie's son Bert Cook into his first 100 acre farm to give him a "hand up in life."
Arthur is buried in the RSA section of Totara Memorial Park Cemetery in Thames.
Arthur's dates: Born 7 June, 1878 at Mauku,
Died 16 January, 1945, at Ngatea, Hauraki Plains.
Arthur served on the Western Front, France during the First World War (Copy of his Military Record here) and spent time at the Sling camp in Wiltshire, and a spell in Tidworth Hospital due to first having the measles (Rubella) and then again when he had diptheria. His name is on the Roll of Honour at Ngatea Memorial Hall.
He had a farm opposite his brother Tom's on the Hauraki Plains and returned after the war to find it had gone into debt while he was away. He shelved his hopes of marrying a Scottish girl he met while serving overseas because he felt he could not offer his wife a proper home.
He farmed the rest of his days on the Plains.
He is described by the family as a quiet man who was an excellent judge of horses and while like his brother Ernest he loved to place a bet he would only back horses he could watch beforehand to assess their form.
He never married but like his sister Gertrude took an interest in his nephews' future, for example assisting his sister Lottie's son Bert Cook into his first 100 acre farm to give him a "hand up in life."
Arthur is buried in the RSA section of Totara Memorial Park Cemetery in Thames.
Arthur's dates: Born 7 June, 1878 at Mauku,
Died 16 January, 1945, at Ngatea, Hauraki Plains.