Theodore William Henry Veale

Private, 8th Battalion. Devonshire Regiment

Register No.: 1250 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Private all Privates →
Unit: 8th Battalion. Devonshire Regiment all Devonshire Regiment VCs →
Date of action: 20 July 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
Conflict / campaign: First World War
London Gazette: 9th September 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
Born: 11th November 1892 at Dartmouth, Devon
Died: 6th November 1980 at Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire
Memorial / grave: Cremated at Enfield Crematorium, Middlesex. A Memorial plaque was unveiled, by his daughter Theodora, on 10th November 2002 at Dartmouth. *
Medal held by: the Devonshire Regiment Museum, Bridport

Digest of citation

Private Veale saw a wounded officer waving his hand for assistance on 20th July 1916, East of High Wood, France. He ran to the spot, which was within 50 yards of the enemy, where Lieutenant Savill lay, dragging him into a shell-hole then fetched him some water. Although the enemy fired at him, Private Veale remained unscathed. He called for volunteers to help as he could not manage to carry the man alone. One of the volunteers, Corporal Allen, was killed immediately and the heavy enemy fire meant that they had to leave the officer where he was until dusk. Private Veale and other volunteers, Lieutenant Duff and Sergeant Smith, went out again and came into close contact with a German patrol. He returned to the lines, 150 yards away, and brought back a Lewis gun: covering the party whilst they carried the wounded officer to safety

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

VEALE, Theodore William Henry. (reg No. 1250).

Private. 8th Battalion. Devonshire Regiment.

London Gazetted on 9th September 1916.

VC Medal's Custodian is the Devonshire Regiment Museum, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset.

Born on 11th November 1892 at Dartmouth, Devon.

Died on 6th November 1980 at Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. Cremated at Enfield Crematorium, Middlesex. A Memorial plaque was unveiled, by his daughter Theodora, on 10th November 2002 at Dartmouth. * Digest of Citation reads: Private Veale saw a wounded officer waving his hand for assistance on 20th July 1916, East of High Wood, France. He ran to the spot, which was within 50 yards of the enemy, where Lieutenant Savill lay, dragging him into a shell-hole then fetched him some water. Although the enemy fired at him, Private Veale remained unscathed. He called for volunteers to help as he could not manage to carry the man alone. One of the volunteers, Corporal Allen, was killed immediately and the heavy enemy fire meant that they had to leave the officer where he was until dusk. Private Veale and other volunteers, Lieutenant Duff and Sergeant Smith, went out again and came into close contact with a German patrol. He returned to the lines, 150 yards away, and brought back a Lewis gun: covering the party whilst they carried the wounded officer to safety .

* Go to www. stewart.prestel.co.uk/bbveale.htm

Road, Dorchester, Dorset.

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: Cremated at Enfield Crematorium, Middlesex. A Memorial plaque was unveiled, by his daughter Theodora, on 10th November 2002 at Dartmouth. *

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