wheeldon was released from prison on licence on 31 december 1917 at the request of lloyd george. her health permanently weakened, she died of influenza during the pandemic a little over a year later in 1919. at her funeral, willie placed a red flag over his mother's coffin and her friend john smith clarke, still evading police as a conscientious objector on the run, was the only speaker. her daughters, winnie and hettie, were too ill to attend the funeral. wheeldon's grave was not marked as there was concern it would be defaced.