Wheeler was born on 29 July 1925 in Bath, England, the eldest in a family of six, he was from from Vernhan Grove in that city, where his civilian role was as a tailor's assistant.
Wheeler was born on 29 July 1925 in Bath, England, to Henry Arthur Wheeler and Rose (ne Snook), and was the eldest in a family of six. He was from from Vernhan Grove in Bath, where his civilian role was as a tailor's assistant.