Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of James B and Florence VEAL

Pte 2070 Norman Joseph Veal was listed as missing, later killed, in action on 7 August 1915 following the unsuccessful attack on Hill 971 as part of the August Offensive. There is a very high probability he was killed at or near a place called Abdel Rahman Bair (the ridgeline immediately before Hill 971) where the 14th Battalion was caught in the open by well sited Turkish machine guns and driven back with significant casualties (36 killed, 93 wounded and 128 missing - later confirmed killed). 

Joseph Veal's body was never recovered and he is memorialised at the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli.

Cousins:

1668 Corporal Leonard GILLESPIE MM, 5th Bn, killed in action, 4 October 1917;

3729 Corporal Thomas VEAL MM, 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery, returned to Australia, 5 April 1919.

Norman Joseph Veal was born at Newport, Vic, in 1896, the eldest son of James Bowden & Florence Veal.    His father was the assistant health inspector in Bendigo, and the family lived at 72 Rowan Street, Bendigo.   Norman completed his education at Long Gully State School and the Bendigo High School.   He was a member of the Forest-street Methodist Young Men’s Bible class, a member of Sutton Tent, I.O.R., Long Gully, and was employed as a Clerk in the accountancy office of the Beehive Store.     

Norman Joseph Veal enlisted for service in the A.I.F. on 23.2.15 aged 19 years & 1 month.   Parental consent was required as he was under the age of 21, and this consent was given by his father:  “I James B Veal do hereby consent to my son Norman Joseph Veal serving in the AIF for service abroad”.

He entered the Training Camp at Broadmeadows, and was Appointed to the 5th Reinforcements for the 14th Battalion, with Service No. 2070.    On 17.4.15 he embarked for overseas on board “Hororata.”

Disembarking in Egypt, Norman moved to Zeitoum Camp, where training was continued.   In a letter to his father, written on 8th July, he wrote:  “I am leaving for the front tomorrow.   All the boys are in high glee at going, and we are all in the best of spirits, and going to do our share in avenging our comrades who have fallen.   We do not know who our officers will be, but I suppose Major Adams, of Bendigo, will be one of them.   I am in perfect health, and am looking forward to tomorrow 5.30 a.m.    Don’t worry about me.”     [Bendigonian   19 August 1915]

Norman embarked for the Dardanelles on 9th July, 1915.     The 14th  Battalion was at Kephalas Rest Camp on Imbros for a short rest, having moved from Anzac Cove on 11.7.15.    On joining the Battalion he had the Letter A added to his Service No. (2070A).   The weather was fine and warm and the men were occupied with bathing parades and training exercises.    The battalion returned to Anzac Cove under cover of darkness on 14.7.15 and moved to Reserve Gully.   For the next few weeks the battalion was out of the front line, furnishing inlying picquet and digging fatigues.  

The 14th Battalion was under orders to form part of an attack on Hill 971, at the summit of the Sari Bair heights to the north of Anzac Cove.   This attack was scheduled for August 8th.    The 14th Battalion War Diary records that the Battalion moved out in the dark on August 6, across country which had not been surveyed.    On 7th August the men tried to scratch holes into the hard ground.   The right side of the line was under fire from enemy snipers.   

Norman Joseph Veal was Killed in Action on 7th August, 1915.   His Body was never recovered and he is Commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial   (Panel 43).

Chaplain Andrew Gillison wrote to Mr J. B. Veal about the death of his son: “Gallipoli, 19th August, 1915. – Dear Mr Veal – You will already have become aware of the sorrowful news of your son’s death, which took place on 7th August, and as I was at his side just after he was wounded, and until he passed away, I write to give you a few particulars, and to express the sympathy of officers and men of the battalion in the sorrow which has come to you and your family.   On the night of 6th August the battalion moved out, and were able to take a ridge without loss by dawn.   Thereafter, while they were digging themselves in, they suffered slightly from rifle fire, and about 8 a.m. on the 7th your son received a bullet wound in the body, which very quickly proved fatal.   When I saw that there was no hope of recovery, I asked him if he had any message to send home, and his answer was, “Love to my father and mother.”   . . . . . and passed away soon into unconsciousness.   He was buried close to where he fell, along with an officer and another comrade who had met their death near the same spot.   A cross will be erected over the grave.  . . . . ”       [Bendigonian   21 October 1915] 

“Mr J. B. Veale[sic], assistant health inspector in Bendigo, has lost his son, Private Norman Joseph Veale, who was killed in the fighting at the Dardanelles.   Private Veale was only 19 years of age, and was a native of Newport.   On 17th April last he left Melbourne with the 14th Battalion’s 5th reinforcements.   After being in Egypt for seven weeks he left for the Dardanelles on 9th July.   Prior to enlisting, Private Veale was employed in the accountancy office at Mr R. O. Henderson’s Beehive emporium for over four years.   He was a favourite amongst his companions, by whom he was held in the highest esteem.   For many years he was a member of Sutton Tent, I.O.R., Long Gully, and was also a popular member of the Forest-street Young Men’s Bible class.   In 1910 he won a silver medal in the local senior cadet rifle matches.   The bereaved parents were yesterday the recipients of many messages of sympathy.”    [Bendigonian   9 September 1915]  

“VEAL. – Killed in action at the Dardanelles on the 7th August, Norman Joseph, dearly loved eldest son of J. B. and F. Veal, 72 Rowan Street, Bendigo; aged 19 years and seven months.

He rose responsive to his country’s call,

He gave for her his best, his life, his all.

 Our brave boy.”

[Bendigonian   16 September 1915]

“Members of the Beehive Staff who Served in the Great War”: Larna Malone