Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of George and Alice VEITCH of Parramatta North

DEATH OF MR. G. G. VEITCH.
It is our sad duty to report the death of Mr. Gravatt George Veitch, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Veitch, of Barney street, Parramatta North. His death took place on Friday in the Emergency Hospital, Casino, in which town he had for months been acting town clerk in place of the permanent town clerk, who is away on military duty at Rabaul, and is not expected to resume duty for some considerable time. It appears that the late Mr. Veitch contracted influenza, and when recovering got about rather early and developed pneumonia on the Monday prior to his death. He was 27 years of age. Some years ago he occupied the position of junior clerk in the office of the town clerk, Parramatta. He left there to take up the duties of deputy town clerk at Granville, and whilst there he sat for examination to qualify for a town or shire clerkship and passed. He then enlisted, and was at the war for two or three years. On his return he obtained the appointment of clerk to the Gilgandra shire, and afterwards was appointed acting town clerk at Casino. Being of a happy and genial disposition he was very popular wherever he went, and his death at such an early age is deplored amongst his many friends and acquaintances both in Parramatta and Granville. The remains were conveyed by water to Sydney, and thence by road to the old home at Parramatta. The funeral took place on Monday morning, when the remains were interred in old St. John's cemetery. A short service was first held at the home, conducted by the Rev. T. Hilhouse Taylor. The pall-bearers were returned soldiers, comrades of the deceased, and, on arrival at the cemetery gates, they bore their comrade to his last resting-place. At the graveside, besides his relatives and immediate friends, were the Mayor of Granville (Alderman H. E. Epps) and Mr. W. G. Moffitt (town clerk), Mr. S. Davies (town clerk, Parramatta), Mr. F. J. Foot (deputy town clerk), and Mr. W. M. Cox (engineer), also a number of the bellringers of All Saints' Church. At the conclusion of the service the Rev. T. Hilhouse Taylor gave a simple and feeling address, in which he spoke of the life of the deceased and of his association with All Saints', as a member and as a bellringer. The speaker referred to the sad fact that so many brave boys who had gone forth at the call of Empire, braved all the hardships and dangers of a terrible war, and had returned to their homeland only to be stricken down by the terrible scourge that was claiming so many victims. He felt sure that had it not been for the privations suffered during the war that many of these men would have conquered the disease, so they could say of their departed friend, "Killed in action," e'en though he had not fallen in France. To all intents and purposes it was the result of enemy action. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. W. Metcalfe and Co.