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The Wheel
LEST WE FORGET Remembering the Great War with Radstock’s fallen. Albert’s Story Service No. 24001. Veal, Albert. Bombardier. 61st Trench Mortar Battery. Royal Field Artillery. Albert Veal was born in 1882 at Frome Hill Radstock, to parents William Veal and Emily (neè Short). His father originated in Hampshire, but his mother was from Midsomer Norton and the family lived in Radstock for much of Albert’s life. Following the death of his mother, Albert’s father remarried to Mary Ann Latchem and the family moved to 31 Carlingford Terrace. Around this time, Albert started working as a coalminer before joining the local militia, the 4th Somerset Light Infantry Regiment. At 23, he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery and enlisted on 21st December.
On 19th October 1906, he embarked for India where he served tours of duty in Jutogh, Ambala, Quetta, Lahore, Raawalpindi and Khaira Gali. While there, he contracted malaria and spent some time in hospital with tape worm, infections and a face wound which was caused while off duty. Following his time in hospital, he transferred to the 26th Heavy Battery and returned to England on 3rd April 1914, where he was stationed at Aldershot. When the Great War started on 16th August 1914, Albert was sent to France and Flanders to support the British Expeditionary Force, which was in retreat from Mons in Belgium. On 9th December of that year, he was hospitalised again, this time for Typhoid Fever. He was sent to Southampton where he remained
