After the war Wheeler became assistant adjutant and quartermaster general for the 6th Airborne Division in Palestine during the Palestine Emergency (see 6th Airborne Division in Palestine). He was appointed military assistant to Adjutant-General to the Forces in 1949, a member of the UK Services Liaison Staff in Australia in 1951, and a member of the General Staff at Headquarters Northern Army Group in 1954. In 1958 he was made commanding officer of the 1st Battalion the Royal Ulster Rifles and deployed as part of the response to the EOKA campaign in Cyprus. He went on to be commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade at Lisburn in 1959, chief of staff of the British I Corps in Germany in 1962, and general officer commanding the 2nd Division in 1964. His last appointments were as chief of staff for Contingencies Planning at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe from 1966 and as chief of staff at British Army of the Rhine Headquarters from 1969 before retiring in 1971.