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Auction: 18002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 346

Pair: Major C. L. Veal, Welsh Regiment, late East Surrey Regiment, who bookended a First Class Cricket career between being severely wounded at Paardeberg and twice during the Great War

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paaredeberg, Transvaal (Lieut. C. L. Veal. Welsh Regt.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. C. L. Veal. Welsh Regt.), first with neatly repaired non-swivel suspension, die flaw at 5 o'clock but not obscuring naming, thus nearly very fine (2)

Provenance:
Sotheby's, March 1982, Lot 295.

Charles Lewis Veal was born at Bridgend, Glamorgan in August 1876 and educated at Repton. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the East Surrey Regiment in January 1896, he transferred to the Welsh Regiment and served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa, being severely wounded at the Battle of Paardeberg, 18 February 1900. Veal subsequently joined on attachment the 6th Mounted Infantry Company in December 1900, before rejoining his Regiment in September 1902, duly earning a 'mention' for his services in the campaign (London Gazette 10 September 1901, refers). Promoted Captain on 29 November 1904, his solidering continued alongside a cricket career. This included six First Class appearances for the M.C.C. between 1906-10, with a top score of 41 and appearances for the Army. Veal retired with the rank of Major on 7 June 1913.

Second Innings

Re-joining the Welsh Regiment with the onset of the Great War, Veal served on the Western Front from 4 December 1915 (entitled 1915 Star Trio), being twice wounded at Mametz Wood during 1916 and again 'mentioned' (London Gazette 9 January 1917, refers). Transferred to the Officer's Reserve in 1919, he continued an active life. Besides wielding the willow for Thornbury Cricket Club - long associated with W. G. Grace - he was a founder member of the Gloucestershire Gypsies in 1921, as Honorary Secretary. The founders aligned their own with those famous County Amatuer Clubs such as The Hampshire Hogs and The Yorkshire Gentlemen. Membership was considered on the fact each gentleman should, besides being of good ability, '....be an acceptable guest in the average country-house.' Veal also rode with the Berkely and Beaufort Hunts and was a keen member of the Royal British Legion. He died at Kensington on 1 June 1929 as is buried at Greatham, Hampshire; sold with copied MIC, portrait photograph and research.

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Sold for
£480