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

for 30 days treatment. Once fit, he was drafted back to France on 8th March and on 28th May, he was posted to 5th Trench Mortar Battery, a unit that suffered heavy losses. On 29th August he transferred to the 61st Trench Mortar Battery and then on 25th October was promoted to Bombardier. Records show that Albert returned to England a few days after his promotion to marry Agnes Banks in Surrey, the pair welcomed their first child, James, the month prior. After a short leave to celebrate his wedding, Albert returned to the front and was admitted to the 20th Casualty Clearing Station and two days later, to the 11th General Hospital before being evacuated once more to Southampton. The initial diagnosis was Meloncholia but was later changed to Stress of Campaign, which became commonly known as Shell Shock. These days, such symptoms would be treated as being Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Albert spent four days in the hospital at Southampton before being sent to Napsbury War Hospital in St Albans after his condition weakened. He was medically discharged from the army on 15th April 1916 and was admitted into civilian care at Wells Asylum, where it is noted he was treated for delusional insanity. Albert died the following March and was buried at St Nicholas Churchyard in Radstock. Although commemorated on the Radstock Town War Memorial, St Nicholas’ Church and in the Somerset Book of Honour, Albert is not listed on the Common Wealth War Graves Commissions database or on the list of soldiers who died in the Great War, which is the official casualty list. This Remembrance Day, be sure to spare a thought for Albert and those like him.

Lest we forget.