WWI Pair. Wheal. Royal Lancaster Regiment. KIA during the 100 Day Offensive, July 1918. Northampton.

Correctly named 10608 Cpl C Wheal R Lanc R

Clarence Rajpoot Wheal was born in Poona, Bombay in India in 1894 to Frances and John.

His father John died in 1900.

He was serving with the 1st Battalion when he went overseas to France 15th of January 1915.

We noted at some point in late 1915, he was serving with the 8th Battalion.

There seems to be no records for any woundings throughout his service.

He is entitled to a 1915 Star Trio but alas the 15 Star is missing. (hopefully still out there to find)

By July 1918, he is back with the 1st Battalion and is serving in Northern France as a part of the 100 Day Offensive by the allied forces.

The Hundred Days Offensive was not a single planned campaign but a series of coordinated Allied offensives along the Western Front that began with the Battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918 and concluded with the Armistice on 11 November 1918
Wikipedia.

It marked the transition from static trench warfare to mobile operations, with combined use of infantry, tanks, artillery, and aircraft to break German defences.

Key Battles and Operations

Battle of Amiens (8–12 August 1918): The offensive began with a surprise attack by British, Canadian, Australian, and French forces, overwhelming German positions along the Somme. German General Erich Ludendorff called it “the black day of the German Army” due to heavy losses

Second Battle of the Marne (15 July – 6 August 1918): Preceding the Hundred Days, this counterattack halted the last German offensive and set the stage for Allied momentum

Battle of St Quentin Canal (29 September 1918): The Allies broke through the Hindenburg Line, Germany’s last major defensive position, forcing a retreat

Meuse-Argonne Offensive (26 September – 11 November 1918): Led by the American Expeditionary Force under General Pershing, this became the bloodiest battle in U.S. military history, with over 26,000 killed and 95,000 wounded.

Clarence was killed in action on the 21st of July 1918.

He is buried at Gonnehem British Cemetery in France.

An address found for Clarence is 159 Ashburnum Road, Northampton.

Both medals have original silk ribbons.