B149466 Rifleman James Clinton Wheeler was born on 14 November 1923, in El Centro, Columbia in South America, the son of Orby Clinton Wheeler (Chief Geologist for Imperial Oil) and Katherine Riggs.  He had two younger brothers.

He came to Toronto with his parents in 1930 and attended Whitney and Forest Hill Public schools before completing a year at McGill University towards a Bachelor of Arts.

He then completed the Canadian Army University Course, enlisted with the Canada Army active force on 19 July 1943, and after further training travelled overseas in October 1944. He was taken on strength with The Queen’s Own Rifles on 10 November 1944.

He was killed in action (possibly by a sniper) in Germany during Operation Blockbuster on the 26 February 1945.

By 1947 his body had been reburied in the Nijmegen Canadian Military Cemetery (Grave Reference: VIII. B. 9.) in The Netherlands.