VEAL Ernest

Appears on the Army casualties list for Worcestershire.

A letter from H.J. Winnington, Honorary Secretary of PCC, St James Church, Wollaston dated 17th December 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that Private Ernest Veal, Worcestershire Regiment be added to the county roll of honour.

Researched and transcribed by Sandra Taylor.

The following information has been researched and transcribed by The Black Country Society:
Ernest Veal was the son of Mr Veal of 32 Palfrey Road, Wollaston. By the time of the war he was married to Ethel and living at “Thelvern”, Pedmore Road, Lye. He worked as a hairdresser. He enlisted early in 1941 and joined the 1st Battalion of the Worcesters. They landed in Normandy as part of the follow-up forces to the 1944 D Day landings and fought throughout the Normandy campaign as far as the German frontier. In November they were facing the defences of the Siegfried Line and were involved in a significant victory at Tripsrath. Ernest Veal suffered gun shot wounds to an arm in this battle. The fighting stabilised until February when they met severe resistance in the Reichswald before taking Cleve. After two periods of relief the Battalion returned to the front line for the challenge of the Rhine crossing. A huge concentration of troops and material was built up by 30 Corps near Rees. A small bridgehead was gained and the Worcesters crossed the Rhine on the 27th March. They were then responsible for leading the break-out and ordered to seize a stretch of uncompleted Autobahn. The raised level of the road helped the German defenders and the Worcesters suffered casualties from both shelling and machine guns. The target was captured, but among those killed in action was Private Ernest Veal. He was 35 years of age and was buried in the Reichswald War Cemetery (56 G 13). His name is also commemorated at both Wollaston and Lye.