Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From François Berthout

Today a new day begins under the benevolent sun of the Somme and it is with deep gratitude that I would like to pay a very respectful tribute to Private number 4173 John Gretland Veall who fought in the 12th Australian Infantry Battalion and who was killed in action 104 years ago,on July 24, 1916 at the age of 24 on the battlefields of the Somme.

John Gretland Veall was born on August 5, 1891 in Hoyleton, South Australia, and was the son of Henry and Edith Veall. Before the war John was single, he lived in Nortons Summit, South Australia, He was a fine athlete, and was captain of the Norton's Summit Football Club and worked as a moulder.

Enlisted on August 30, 1915 in Adelaide, South Australia, in the 12th Australian Infantry Battalion, 13th Reinforcement, he embarked with his unit from Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda on January 11, 1916 and sailed for Egypt where he was disembarked on March 29 1916 in Alexandria to join the British expeditionary force and then embarked on the "Transylvania" and sailed for France where he was disembarked on April 4, 1916 in Marseilles and joined his unit at Etaples before joining the Somme front on May 26, 1916.
Unfortunately, two months later, John was killed in action on July 24, 1916 at the age of 24 during the offensive to take the village of Pozieres, Somme.

Today John Gretland Veall rests in peace alongside his comrades and friends in the Pozieres British Cemetery and his grave bears the following inscription "God's will be done".

John Gretland Veall had three cousins who were killed in action and a brother, Private number 404 Samuel Vivian Veall who fought in the 43rd Australian Infantry Battalion and who died of meningitis at the age of 19 on September 4, 1916 at Lucklow Isolation Hospital, Tidworth, England and he rests in peace in Tidworth Military Cemetery, England.

Thank you John, born in sunny Australia and raised in a loving family, 24 years old, on the dawn of a life full of promise and hope, the dark clouds of war have grieved you with sadness but you raised your head and answered the call of duty to serve your country, turning your gaze one last time to your country and your parents and your family who have in you all the richness of their lives. Sailing with a joyful heart with your comrades, you carried within you the hope of a whole country, of France who saw in you the light after so much suffering and sorrow.You walked, despite fear and apprehension, you walked with courage and determination to the front line, lines of plowed trenches, overthrown by shells, landscapes of the apocalypse brought about by the war, you have seen and faced death, violence, fury, destruction, but your heart remained strong and you fought with great bravery.you have done more than your duty and today the light of the Sun of the Somme comes to shine your name, your history. 104 years have passed but your memory is still in our hearts and in our thoughts and we will keep the precious memory of your young face and your courage, your sacrifice, your life, your story will never be forgotten and we will always be grateful to you John.Thank you.At the going down of the sun and in the morning,we will remember him,we will remember them,now,tomorrow,forever.🌺

Pte John Veall's brother 404 Pte. Samuel Vivian Veall (/explore/people/242508) died 6 weeks after John, in an English hospital, from cerebro-spinal meningitis

"THE LATE PTE. J. G. VEALL.

News was received last Friday at Norton's Summit of the death of Pte. J. G. Veall, who was killed in action in France on July 27. Pte. Veall was 25 years of age, and was highly respected throughout the hills district. He was a fine athlete, and was captain of the Norton's Summit Football Club. He enlisted about a year ago." - from the Adelaide Register 22 Aug 1916 (nla.gov.au)