Veitch Ernest Hardinge Major
Personnel Entry
Name Veitch Ernest Hardinge
Army number Not yet known.
Rank Major
Decorations M.C. gazetted 1/1/1918. British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914-15 Star.
Date of birth Birth registered Q4 1876, Durham.
Age 0
Unit Served in the ranks of the Durham Royal Garrison Artillery and Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Volunteer Battalion). Commissioned as 2/Lt in the 8th Battalion of The Durham Light Infantry 21/5/1908. Served in France with 8th Battalion during the First World War. Posted to 151st Brigade. Various Staff appointments. Re-joined 8th Battalion DLI in 1920.Volunteered to work in 70th Brigade HQ. Left to work with Northumbrian Area Quartering Committee.
Company/Battery Brigade Headquarters.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role 151st Brigade - Staff Captain. 8th DLI - Adjutant 1920 - 1923. 70th Infantry Brigade - Voluntary appointment on the Brigade Staff.
Joined Brigade Exact date not yet known.
Promotions Not yet fully traced.
Wounded
Prisoner of War
Died/Killed in action 27/7/1959 in The Friarage Hospital, Northallerton.
Home address Son of John Hardinge Veitch and Mary Louise Ord. Married Amelie Marjorie Helen Spowart at Durham in 1921. Lived Crossgate Moor and Nevilles Cross.
Source table 70BG
The citation for the award of his second Military Cross reads as follows:-
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed untiring energy in supplying the fighting troops with ammunition and rations. Though units were unlocated and mixed up he never failed to get up their supplies, personally leading them through heavy shell fire. His devotion to duty was most conspicuous".
Durham County Record Office holds an image of Major Veitch in its collection of DLI photographs. It can be seen here
The entry also mentions that his medals are held in the Medal Room of the DLI Museum. A description of those medals can be read here
He was also the author of the WW1 History of the 8th Battalion.
