Name
John Sherard Veasey
3 December 1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/03/1915
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Worcestershire Regiment
Adjutant to 1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 17 and 18.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock, Individual plaque, St Mary’s Church, Baldock, Oxted War Memorial, Surrey, Northaw Place School Memorial, West Tytherley, Hampshire, Oundle School Chapel Memorial, Northamptonshire
Pre War
John Sherard Veasey was born in Baldock on 3 December 1888, the youngest son of Charles James and Annie Lucy Veasey and was baptised on 20 January 1889 at Baldock.
On the 1891 Census the family were living in the High Street, Baldock, and his father's occupation recorded as solicitor. As well as the family, consisting of parents and four children, four servants and a governess were listed with them. His father served as Clerk of the Baldock Urban District Council for many years and when he retired John's brother Thomas succeeded him.
In 1901 John was recorded as boarder at Northaw Place, School, nr Hatfield, Herts, later attending Oundle School, Northamptonshire in May 1904. He spent some time coaching for Sandhurst, which he entered in January 1908.
John received his commission in the 1st Worcestershire Regiment in February 1909 and was recorded on the 1911 Census as 2nd Lieutenant with the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment at Albany Barracks, Parkhurst, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight. In June 1912 he was promoted to Lieutenant and later appointed to the position of Adjutant of the 1st Battalion.
His parents remained in Baldock in 1911, but later lived at "Langley," Oxted, Surrey.
Wartime Service
He was already a serving soldier at the outbreak of war having reached the rank of Lieutenant and was Adjutant to the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment.
John was killed in action on 12 March 1915, aged 26, at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle when the 1st Battalion found themselves in an isolated position with the enemy surrounding them on three sides and were attempting to withdraw. As they fell back they were subjected to the enemy's machine guns and officers and men fell fast, including the Commanding Officer, Adjutant [Veasey] and last surviving Company Commander.
John Veasey has no known grave but his name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £40 17s 9d and pay owing of £3.
An article in the Biggleswade Chronicle from 26 March 1915 gave details of the death of John and noted the military service of his brothers: Staff Captain Thomas H Veasey, who obtained a commission as Lieutenant in the 1st Worcesters at the outbreak of war, Lieutenant Commander Robert F Veasey RN and Captain and Adjutant A C T Veasey, 8th Hampshire Regiment.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, www.worcestershireregiment.com., oundle-heritage.daisy.websds.net, www.iwm.org.uk,
