The AE2 was hit in her engine room on 30 April 1915. The crew abandoned ship and were captured by German forces.

The crew were taken to Constantinople (Istanbul) as prisoners, and in 1916 were put to work on the Taurus Mountains section of the Baghdad railway.

On two occasions Wheat escaped his Turkish captors. However, facing sickness and starvation, on both occasions he had to return to the prison.

Wheat was selected for the exchange of 1000 men for enemy prisoners in October 1918.