Lawrence Rex (Laurie) VEALE

VEALE, Lawrence Rex

Service Number: VX38589
Enlisted: 13 August 1940
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/14th Infantry Battalion
Born: Colac, Victoria, Australia, 21 December 1915
Home Town: Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria
Schooling: Colac State School and Colac High School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Signwriter
Died: Presumed, Papua, 2 September 1942, aged 26 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Port Moresby Memorial, Port Moresby, Papua, Papua New Guinea
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Port Moresby (Bomana) Memorial
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Private, VX38589
13 Aug 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX38589, 2nd/14th Infantry Battalion

Help us honour Lawrence Rex Veale's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Ian Fox

Laurie left Australia in 8 April 1941 for the Middle East being in the Australian Military Specialist Group. In January 1942 he returned to Australia.

On 6 August 1942 Laurie left Brisbane on SS James Wilson for Port Moresby.  He was reported Missing in Action on 30 August 1942.  In the battle of Isurava, the section that Laurie Veale was in played a key role in monitoring the tactical situation, reconnoitring the flanks and providing guidance, particularly in the subsequent withdrawal ... (Diggers Cast Together – Kokoda and Beyond, Trevor Jennings)

[Source: Colac Family History Project/WW2 Honour Roll]

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