User:Pdfpdf/William Charles Douglas Veale

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/adccwr/publications/reports_plans/apl_2.0_contextual_development.pdf - pg26 [dead link]

Adelaide Park Lands & Squares Cultural Landscape Assessment Study[edit]

Wikipedia[edit]

Requested page
Requested page
Google
Photos at AWM



Plaque on the Jubilee 150 Walkway
Veale Gardens
Veale Gardens

Brigadier William Charles Douglas Veale, ED, FAPI, FIMA (16 May 1895 – 17 August 1971),[1][2] was generally known, and referred to, as W. C. D. Veale. An engineer, surveyor and soldier,[3] he is best known as the longtime (1947–1965) town clerk (CEO) of the Adelaide City Council[4] and had significant influence in the development and change of character of the City of Adelaide during that period. For example, in conjunction with four-time Lord Mayor of Adelaide Arthur Campbell Rymill, he was responsible for significant improvements to the Adelaide Park Lands. He was also known as a soldier and engineer in World War II at the Battle of Timor and during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies.

Veale Gardens in Adelaide's South Parklands is named in his honour.

Early years[edit]

Veale was born and educated in Bendigo, and apprenticed to an engineer at the Whittlesea Council in Morang, Victoria.[2]

World War I[edit]

Veale enlisted in the First Australian Imperial Force on 14 February 1916. In October 1917, while he was one of a party marking out an assembly position, the party came under fire and several of the party were seriously wounded. Whilst under continuous shell fire, Veale attended to all of their wounds, got them to safety and then successfully marked out the assembly position. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty", he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.[2][5]

He was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1918. While on operations in the Somme, France, in August 1918, in the one night when under enemy shelling, he supervised the construction of two bridges required for use by the infantry next morning, without alerting the enemy. For this deed he was awarded the Military Cross.[2][6]

Inter-bellum[edit]

After a period working at Stoke-on-Trent and the Ministry of Transport in London, he returned to Victoria, serving as Engineer to the Shire of Kowree Council at Edenhope.[2]

He married Eileen Guest at All Saints' Church of England, Bright, on 12 February 1923.[2]

On 8 October 1923 he became Assistant City Engineer & Surveyor to the City of Adelaide at an annual salary of A£450. In 1926 he became Deputy City Engineer, and City Engineer in 1929. During this period he served with the Militia rising to Colonel.[2]

World War II[edit]

Brig. Veale in Lae, New Guinea (1945)

Prior to and during World War II, Veale held the following positions and commands:[7][8]

1936 Commanding Officer 10/50th Infantry Battalion
1936–1940 Commanding Officer 10th Infantry Battalion
1940–1941 Commanding Officer 2/3rd Pioneer Infantry Battalion[9]
1941 Commander Royal Engineers 7th Military District
1941–1941 Chief Engineer 7th Military District
1942 Commanding Officer Sparrow Force (Battle of Timor)
1942 Commandant of Engineer Training Centre New South Wales
1944 Commanding Officer Moresby Base Sub-Area
1944–1945 Chief Engineer 2nd Australian Army
1945 Chief Engineer 1st Australian Army
1946 Reserve of Officers honorary brigadier

Post-war[edit]

Veale was appointed town clerk in January 1947.[2]

Retirement[edit]

Veale retired in November 1965.[2]

He died on 17 August 1971 in North Adelaide and was cremated; his wife and their two daughters survived him.[2]

Honours and awards[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Biographical cuttings on William Charles Douglas Veale, nla.gov.au
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Robert Thornton (2002). "Veale, William Charles (1895–1971)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. MUP.
  3. ^ G.J. McCarthy (21 July 2006). "Veale, William Charles Douglas (1895-1971)". Biographical Entry. Encyclopaedia of Australian Science.
  4. ^ Veale Gardens, Rose Garden Walking Trail, Adelaide City Council
  5. ^ a b Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), 6 February 1918, It's an Honour
  6. ^ a b "No. 31158". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 February 1919. p. 1738. - Military Cross (MC)
  7. ^ Brig Veale, www.generals.dk
  8. ^ V84544 William Charles Douglas Veale, MC, DCM, www.awm.gov.au
  9. ^ 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion, www.awm.gov.au
  10. ^ The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil) (CBE), 10 June 1954, It's an Honour
  11. ^ Military Cross (MC), 1 February 1919, www.awm.gov.au


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Pdfpdf/William_Charles_Douglas_Veale&oldid=845628589"