Neville Veal shares the story of his grandfather’s brother, Curtis Clark Veal.

Curtis Veal was born in Gympie, Queensland. He joined the Queensland 9th Battalion in September, 1914 and sailed for Cairo in early 1915. On the morning of 25 April, 1915, Curtis went ashore at Gallipoli as a stretcher bearer.

Young Curtis lasted approximately four weeks at Anzac Cove before he was shot in both legs and severely injured by bomb blasts. He was eventually repatriated back to Australia and subsequently discharged from at the age of 22. He received a pension of one pound per week for serving King and Country.

The sergeant who was in charge of Curtis Veal’s stretcher bearer unit was Joseph Cecil Thompson. Neville has spoken to Sgt Thompson’s granddaughter, Ellen Thompson, in relation to Sgt Thompson’s diary entry for the 27th April, where he writes that he saw Pte C Veal perform a high degree of gallantry in saving the life of Lt Patterson from a machine gun nest.

Sgt Thompson wrote  that he intended to recommend Pte C Veal for a Victoria Cross. Curtis never received any award for gallantry. Neville is currently trying to have the Department of Defence investigate the matter to see what can be done for the brave deeds of his grandfather’s brother at Gallipoli.

Neville writes: