T.W.H VEALE V
Commemorative stone to mark Dartmouth VC hero’s epic rescue
A specially designed commemorative stone is to be laid in honour of the Dartmouth-born holder of the Victoria Cross, Corporal Theodore Veale – 100 years to the day he dashed through heavy gun fire during the First World War to rescue an injured fellow officer.
The fearless soldier went out into no-man’s land five times over several hours to rescue of Lt EricSavill, who lay within yards of the German trenches. Initially Veale dragged the officer a few yards into a shell hole. With three volunteers they crawled out again only for one of them to be killed.
Undeterred Cpl Veale went out again with two other men and when they were ambushed returned fire with a light machine gun. Eventually all made it back to the Devonshire Regiment trenches.
The date was July 20, 1916. The battle ground was the Somme. Both men survived the war – Cpl Veale received his VC from King George V at Buckingham Palace on February 1917 and died in 1980 aged 87. Lt Savill became Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park where he created the Veale/Savill Garden. He was knighted in 1955.
The Dartmouth Veale/Savill garden, part of Royal Avenue Garden, includes four magnolias donated by the Veale/Savill garden at Windsor Great Park. Now as part of the celebration of the ‘Great War’ the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles mounted a competition to design the commemorative stone which he unveiled this month. The winner Charlie MacKeith from London emulated the style of the War Graves Commission memorials in his design. The individually engraved stones will be laid in 400 communities across the UK. The stone and engraving have been funded by the Government. The design will also incorporate an electronic Q-code (a square bar code) which people will be able to scan using their smartphones to discover more information about their local Victoria Cross hero. Mr Pickles said: “The winning paving stone is a fitting tribute to the centenary of the war and will keep the memory of local war heroes alive for hundreds more years to come”.
The Veale/Savill garden in Dartmouth is maintained by South Hams District Council and on Remembrance Sunday 2002 held a commemorative service in the garden attended by Cpl Veal’s daughter Theodora who wore his VC while unveiling a plaque to her father. Theodora died six years ago, but his son-in-law, widower John Grindell will be attending the stone laying ceremony on July 20 2016 along with his daughter and Cpl Veale’s granddaughter Jennifer. John, a Royal Marine in the Second World War, said: “We most certainly will be there for the stone laying. I am totally in favour of these such events as an ex-serviceman. People need to be aware of just how brave he was. He went into no man’s land four or five times in five hours – that was total bravery.”
South Hams District Councillor Hilary Bastone, said: “This is a beautifully timed project to ensure that the memory of those who contributed so much to the achievements of this country are written in stone for future generations to understand and be inspired by.” Dartmouth Town Council will be discussing the ceremony and an appropriate site for the commemorative stone with South Hams District Council who own and maintain Royal Avenue Gardens.