Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas VEAL (Tom)

Military Medal

Recommendation:- 

'During an enemy attack at the Railway Arch at DERNACOURT, (south west of Albert) on the 6th. April 1918, his supervision of his team and observation was excellent and contributed greatly in smashing the attack.                                                                             When the line on the left was broken he stood by his team and set a splendid example of courage to his men, remaining in the position until the enemy was within 100 yards, when the Mortar had to be destroyed to prevent capture by the enemy'.

Recommended by C.O LONG, O.C. 13th. A.L.T.M                             For Military Medal MM  

Signed J.W Glasgow                                                               Brigadier-General, Commanding 15th. Australian Infantry Brigade.  

Thomas (Tom) Veal enlisted in July 1915 just one month before his cousin Norman Veal (2070) also from Bendigo would be killed at Gallipoli. Tom was 19 as was his cousin Norman when killed. Tom would embark in mid October 1915 to avenge Norman’s death only to arrive too late to join the depleted A.I.F forces on the cliffs of the Dardanelles Peninsula. 

In early 1916 in Egypt, he would be reassigned to the new 52nd battalion as part of a major expansion and reorganisation of the A.I.F. and he would travel with his new Battalion in June 1916 to France. Just a month later he would transfer to the 13th Light Trench Mortar battery.

He would spend the terrible 1916/17 winter with his battery and be promoted to Corporal in February 1917. In August 1917, he would be involved in heavy fighting during the Third Ypres battles that raged across the Flanders Fields in the second half of 1917.  It was here that he would suffer a bayonet wound to the right thigh described in a letter home to his mother published in the Bendigoian newspaper: - The following letter has been received by Mrs. J. Veal, 35 Creeth-street, Long Gully, from her son, Corporal T. Veal: -"France, 2nd September, the front line, he would again his unit, he would serve through the 1917/18 winter and be reco'Before you receive this letter you will know that I have been unlucky enough to be wounded, but don't worry, as I am almost better again and will be out of bed in a couple of days. It happened on Sunday night, 26th August. We had just gone into the line, and early in the morning I, in company with one of our officers and others, went out reconnoitring for gun positions and targets, and we met a stronger party of Fritzes on the same game. Of course it resulted in a hand to hand encounter, and the ground being very slippery through the rain, I fell once, and one of them got me in the thigh with his bayonet, but before he got it in too far I used my bayonet also, and that particular Fritz will not put the bayonet into anyone else, so I have that consolation. The worst time I had way getting out with the aid of two of my men, and as we didn't know where the dressing stations were, we walked about two miles before we found one, and then my troubles ended. I am in an English hospital, away on the French coast, and am getting very good treatment and will have a spell for a while. Apart from the wound I am quite well." [1]

As stated in his letter, Tom would be back with his unit by mid September. After attending Musketry school behind the front line, he would recognised for a brave act in April as the Germans continued their Spring Offensive. 

The Bendigo Independent reported the following exciting news in July 1918: - “Corporal Tom Veal, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Veal, of Long Gully, has been awarded the Military Medal, and has been decorated with the ribbon by General Birdwood. The award was made for the following gallant action – Whilst in charge of a trench mortar he worked all night making a good gun position, and when the enemy attacked he continued to work and fired the mortar on all targets that presented themselves, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, until they were forty yards away. He then blew up the mortar to prevent its capture by the enemy, and thus set a good example to others throughout the action."[2]

SERVICE DETAILS: 

Regimental No. 3129

Religion: Methodist

Occupation: Battery feeder. Trade: Bricklayer

Address: 35 Creeth Street, Long Gully, Bendigo, Victoria

Marital status: Single

Age at enlistment: 19

Next of kin: Father, John Veal, 35 Creeth Street, Long Gully

Enlistment date: 15 July 1915

Unit name: 12th& 52nd Battalions, 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery

Embarked: HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 16 October 1915

Final Rank: Corporal

Unit from Nominal Roll                 

Fate: Returned to Australia 5 April 1919

Medal Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 12 December 1918 on page 2350 at position 95

At Dernancourt, on the 6th April, 1918.

The German Army on 21 March 1918 had begun a major offensive from positions on the Hindenburg line east of Péronne. The German aim was nothing less than the capture of the city of Amiens and the splitting of the French and British armies in northern France.

The Australians had established outpost positions east of the railway bridge at Dernancourt, in early April 1918. Dernancourt itself suffered considerably knowing it was held by the Germans, the British artillery bombarded the village until 2 pm when enemy soldiers were seen leaving. However, when British troops went forward to scout out the situation, enemy fire from the village drove them back with heavy casualties.[3]

[1] Bendigonian (Bendigo, Vic. : 1914 - 1918)  Thu 29 Nov 1917  Page 20  CORPORAL T. VEAL.

[2] Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918)  Thu 25 Jul 1918  Page 6 AWARDED MILITARY MEDAL.
[3] Australians on the Western Front website. https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/conflicts/australians-western-front/australian-remembrance-trail/australian-corps-3

AWM description from studio photo- Studio portrait possibly of 3129 Private (Pte) Thomas Veal, 10th Reinforcements, 12th Battalion, of Bendigo, Vic. Pe Veal enlisted on 26 July 1915 and was later promoted to corporal. He was awarded the Military Medal (MM) on 6 August 1918 while serving with the 4th Division, Light Trench Mortar Battery and returned to Australia on 5 April 1919.