As a child growing up in Germany under the Nazi regime, he took food to Jewish neighbors hiding in the woods.
He was created a Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to broadcasting and journalism overseas.
His daughter Marina was married to Conservative MP Boris Johnson from 1993 to 2020.
He was created a Knight Bachelor (as Charles Cornelius Wheeler, C.M.G.) for services to Broadcasting and to Journalism. in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours List.
He joined the British Royal Marines in 1942. He was part of a team which
collected technical intelligence in preparation for D-Day. The team was
led by Ian Fleming. As a member of 30 Assault Unit, he participated in the Normandy Landings.