W. C. D. Veale

Brigadier William Charles Douglas Veale, CBE, MC, DCM, ED, FAPI, FIMA (16 May 1895 – 17 August 1971), was generally known, and referred to, as W. C. D. Veale. He is best known as the longtime (1947–1965) town clerk (CEO) 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, he was responsible for significant improvements to the Adelaide Park Lands. He was also known as a soldier and engineer in World War II at 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.

Veale was born in Bendigo in 1895, and apprenticed to an engineer at the Whittlesea Council in Morang, Victoria.

On 14 February 1916, Veale enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force.

Beginning on 9 October 1917, he helped to lay "jumping off" tapes while under fire, and then moved wounded members of his party to safety. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

He was promoted Lieutenant in May 1918. On the night of 28–29 August 1918, near Péronne, Somme, France, he supervised, at short notice and without alerting the enemy, the construction of two bridges needed by the infantry next morning. For this deed he was awarded the Military Cross.

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