SAPPER JOHN TENNANT VEITCH
2715 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Born at Ballarat, Victoria, in 1881, John Tennant Veitch, known as Jack, was the son of Andrew Wilson and Margaret (nee McHenry) Veitch. Andrew Wilson Veitch died in November 1913.
A medical examination at Ballarat on 14 January 1916 recorded that John was 34 years and 2 months of age. He was 5ft 9½ins tall and weighed 140 pounds. He had a brown complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. He was of the Presbyterian faith. A scar on his forehead was noted as a distinguishing mark.
A Miner by trade, he signed the ‘Attestation paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ at Ballarat on 14 January 1916, naming as his Next-of-Kin his mother, Mrs. Margaret Veitch of 226 Ascot Street, Ballarat, and allotted three-fifths of his pay for her support. He signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on the same day.
His training began on 22 January at 14th Depot Battalion, Ballarat. On 4 February when he was transferred to the Mining Corps. On 30 March at Seymour, Victoria he was appointed to the 3rd Reinforcements, No.2 Mining Company.
John embarked at Melbourne, Victoria on 4 April 1916 on board HMAT A14 Euripides with the 3rd Reinforcements. The 80 Tunnellers on board Euripides disembarked at Alexandria and transhipped to the City of Edinburgh before arriving at Marseilles, France on 17 May 1916. They marched into the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) at Etaples on 1 June 1916.
He was admitted to No.2 Australian Stationary Hospital, Moussot, on 22 May and discharged on 20 June to the Segregation Camp at Moussot. On 23 June he reported to the 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot (ADBD) at Etaples.
He was taken on strength of Corps Depot on 18 July from the ADBD.
On 29 September he was taken on strength of the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company (1ATC)
He reported sick on 27 December 1916 and was admitted to the 6th London Field Ambulance with Amblyopia (dimming of vision), rejoining his unit from hospital on 1 January 1917.
On 5 May 1917 he marched out of 1ATC having been deemed to be ‘unfit for Tunnelling’ and marched in to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion on 9 May. He marched in to the AGBD, Rouelles on 23 June. On 22 July he was classified P.B (D.A.H. (disordered action of the heart)).
He was taken on strength of the Australian Veterinary Hospital at Calais on 31 July. John proceeded on leave to England on 11 September, rejoining his unit on 21 September.
He was re-classified “A” (fit for active service) by a Medical Board on 24 February 1918. He proceeded to the AGBD, Havre, on 27 April to join 1ATC, marching in to the Depot on 29 April.
He marched out of the AGBD on 8 May and was taken on strength of 1ATC on 13 May 1918.
John proceeded on leave on 4 September, rejoining his unit on 21 September.
On 26 September 1918 he was charged with ‘conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline in that he, on the 13th September 1917, failed to carry out instructions contained in a statement to which he had set his hand on 12th September 1917’. He was awarded forfeiture of 3 days pay.
He was detached to the 9th Corps Reception Camp on 14 November 1918, rejoining his unit on 4 January 1919. He marched out of 1ATC on 12 February and marched in to the AGBD to begin his return to Australia.
John was a member of 1ATC from May 1916 until May 1917, and again from May 1918 until February 1919. In those periods he would have worked at Hill 60 in the preparations for the Battle of Messines Ridge. He also most likely worked on the digging of the Catacombs at Hill 63. He may have been involved with the Easter Raid of April 1917 and the accidental explosion of 25 April 1917 which killed 10 members of his unit.
John marched out to England on 24 February and marched in to No.3 Camp, Parkhouse on 25 February. He reported sick on 2 March and was admitted to the Group Hospital.
On 10 March he marched out to the Convalescent Training Depot. He marched out to Heytesbury on 26 March.
John left London on 20 April 1919 on board HMAT A36 Boonah for repatriation and demobilisation, disembarking at Melbourne on 8 June 1919. He was discharged from the A.I.F. on 23 July 1919, entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
The 1919 Electoral Roll records John Veitch, Miner, living at 226 Ascot Street, Ballarat West, with his brother Hugh Ramsay Veitch, Draper. Living at 227 Ascot Street, Ballarat West were his mother Margaret, brother Andrew Wilson Veitch, Miner, and sister Helen Jane Veitch.
Hugh married Grace Victoria May Nunn in June 1920 and his brother Andrew, a Railway Employee, married Elizabeth Ethel Quayle in the same year. In 1924 Andrew and Elizabeth were living at 4 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds.
On the 1924 Electoral Roll, John Tennant Veitch, Labourer, is living at Red Cliffs, Mildura.
By the 1931 Electoral Roll, John, still a Labourer, has moved in to 227 Ascot Street with his brother Hugh and his wife Grace, his sister Helen and his mother Margaret.
Margaret Veitch died in April 1932.
In 1936 John, a Labourer, is living at 227 Ascot Street with his brother Hugh and his wife Grace, and his sister Helen.
Helen Jane Veitch died on 7 August 1941.
John, Hugh and Grace continued living at 227 Ascot Street, Ballarat West.
John Tennant Veitch died on 28 June 1947 aged 64 and was afforded a Commonwealth War Service Grave at the Ballarat Cemetery at Presbyterian C, Section 3, Row 2, Grave 55.
Ballarat Cemetery records indicate that John shares that grave with his sister Helen.
John’s brothers also served in WW1:
3387 Hugh Ramsay Veitch served with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion from 19 March 1917 until 24 December 1918.
Letters that Hugh sent to his sister, Mrs “Tottie” Young, have been transcribed by his great nephew, David Young. “Tottie” was David’s grandmother. The letters can be seen at:
3259 Andrew Wilson Veitch served with the 37th Infantry Battalion from 13 October 1916 until 12 May 19. Andrew died on 24 April 1947 and was also afforded a Commonwealth War Grave.
© Donna Baldey 2015
with the assistance of David Young, great nephew of Hugh Ramsay Veitch, John Tennant Veitch & Andrew Wilson Veitch.
Photos of Jack, Hugh and Andrew courtesy David Young.
Research Notes:
Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages records: birth as John Tennent; death as John Tennant
Many military documents carry the spelling John Tanant Veitch
Embarkation Roll records: John Tennant Veitch
Attestation form signed: John Tennant Veitch
The family have always known the spelling ‘Tennant’