World War One – Parramatta Soldiers – George Gravatt Veitch

Before enlisting in September 1915, Sergeant George Veitch, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Veitch, of Barney street, Parramatta North, had held the position of junior clerk in the office of the Town Clerk, Parramatta.

He left there to take up the duties of deputy town clerk at Granville, and whilst there he sat for examination to qualify for a town or shire clerkship and passed. He then enlisted, and was at the war for two or three years. On his return he obtained the appointment of clerk to the Gilgandra shire, and afterwards was appointed acting town clerk at Casino.”

He died from pneumonia at the age of 27. The pall-bearers at his funeral were returned soldiers, “At the graveside, besides his relatives and immediate friends, were the Mayor of Granville (Alderman H. E. Epps) and Mr. W. G. Moffitt (town clerk), Mr. S. Davies (town clerk, Parramatta), Mr. F. J. Foot (deputy town clerk), and Mr. W. M. Cox (engineer), also a number of the bellringers of All Saints’ Church. At the conclusion of the service the Rev.T. Hilhouse Taylor gave a simple and feeling address, in which he spoke of the life of the deceased and of his association with All Saints’, as a member and as a bellringer. The speaker referred to the sad fact that so many brave boys who had gone forth at the call of Empire, braved all the hardships and dangers of a terrible war, and had returned to their homeland only to be stricken down by the terrible scourge that was claiming so many victims. He felt sure that had it not been for the privations suffered during the war that many of these men would have conquered the disease, so they could say of their departed friend, “Killed in action”, even though he had not fallen in France. To all intents and purposes it was the result of enemy action.

Cumberland Argus 9 July 1919