W.C.D. Veale

Brigadier William Charles Douglas Veale, (16 May 1895 – 17 August 1971), generally known as W. C. D. Veale, was an Australian engineer, surveyor and soldier. He is best known as the longtime (1947–1965) town clerk of the Adelaide City Council, and had significant influence in the development and change of character of the City of Adelaide during that period. For example, in conjunction with four-time Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Arthur Campbell Rymill, Veale was responsible for significant improvements to the Adelaide Park Lands. He was also a senior soldier and military engineer who served in both the First and Second World Wars, and is notable for his involvement in the Battle of Timor and during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies.

Veale Gardens in Adelaide's South Parklands is named in his honour.

Early years Veale was born in Bendigo on 16 May 1895, and educated locally. He was later apprenticed to an engineer at the Whittlesea Council in Morang, Victoria.

Interbellum

After a period working at Stoke-on-Trent and the Ministry of Transport in London, Veale returned to Victoria, serving as engineer to the Shire of Kowree Council at Edenhope. Commanding Officer 10/50th Infantry Battalion Commanding Officer 10th Infantry Battalion Commanding Officer 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion Commander Royal Engineers 7th Military District 1941–1941 Chief Engineer 7th Military District 1942 Commanding Officer Sparrow Force (Battle of Timor) 1942 Commandant of Engineer Training Centre New South Wales 1944 Commanding Officer Moresby Base Sub-Area 1944–1945 Chief Engineer 2nd Australian Army 1945 Chief Engineer 1st Australian Army 1946 Reserve of Officers honorary brigadier

Post-war and retirement Veale was appointed town clerk in January 1947, and retired in November 1965. Military Cross (MC) – 1 February 1919 Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) – 1918 Efficiency Decoration (ED) Fellow of the Royal Australian Planning Institute. He was federal president (1954–55). Fellow of the Institute of Municipal Administration