Clifford Beaumont Veitch (1882-1940)
Bank Cashier from Durham served in the Royal Naval Air Service
Clifford Beaumont Veitch was born on 16 March 1882 in Durham. He was the son of John Hardinge Veitch (1841-1898) a Printer and Stationer originally from Huddersfield, Yorkshire. His mother was Mary Louisa Ord (1844-1907) from Durham. Clifford’s parents married in Durham in 1876 and went on to have nine children. Clifford was the youngest son, he was educated at Durham School between 1896 and 1899.
In 1891 the Veitch family were living in Neville Court, Crossgate, Durham. Clifford’s father died in 1898 and his mother Mary took over the running of the printing business in North Road, Durham with her elder sons. In 1901 the family were living in Cross House, Neville’s Cross, Durham and Clifford was working as a Bank Clerk. Mary died in 1907 and at the time of the 1911 census the family were still living in Cross House headed by Ernest Hardinge Veitch the eldest brother in the remaining family. In 1914 Clifford married Helen Anderson Macfarlane (1891-1956) who was originally from Newcastle and worked as a school teacher before the marriage.
Clifford’s brother Ernest Hardinge Veitch was commissioned in the 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) in 1908 after earlier service with the Durham Royal Garrison Artillery and 3rd Volunteer Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. In April 1915, Captain Veitch fought at the 2nd Battle of Ypres with 8 DLI, before he was appointed Staff Captain to the 151st Brigade in 1916. He then held a variety of staff appointments for the rest of the war and was awarded the Military Cross and Bar in 1918. When the Territorial Army was reformed in 1920, Ernest rejoined 8 DLI as Adjutant at Gilesgate, Durham, a position he held until 1923. In 1927, Ernest Veitch wrote the history of 8 DLI during the Great War; Veitch, E. Hardinge, 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry, 1793-1926 (Durham, 1926).
Clifford joined the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 4 June 1917 to serve for the duration of hostilities. His civilian occupation when he joined was bank cashier. He was appointed Aircraftman 2nd grade with the service number F30145 and the trade of labourer. He spent his first month at Wormwood Scrubs from where he was posted to Dunkirk, France, to serve at No1 Wing HQ.
Like most RNAS men Clifford transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF) on 1 April 1918 when it was formed by joining the RNAS and Royal Flying Corps into a single air service. His service number was updated to 230145 and he was given an equivalent rank of private first class. He was transferred to No 61 Wing HQ as part of the restructure. No 61 Wing was engaged in fighter patrols and escort work with bombing and reconnaissance aircraft from the Dunkirk airfields until the end of the war.
Clifford left the RAF via Clipstone Dispersal Camp in Nottinghamshire on 26 January 1919. After one month’s leave he was transferred to the RAF G Reserve on 24 February 1919 and was deemed fully discharged from military service on 30 April 1920.
On his RAF service record Clifford’s home address is given as 52 South Street, Durham. By the time of his death on 19 December 1940 he was living in Jarrow at 133 Bede Burn Road.
Clifford Beaumont Veitch was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.
Civil Parish: Neville's Cross
Birth date: 10-Mar-1882
Death date: 19-Dec-1940
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: Neville’s Court, Crossgate, Durham (1891 census)
Cross House, Neville’s Cross, Durham (1901 and 1911 census)
52 South Street, Durham (1918 RAF record)
133 Bede Burn Road, Jarrow, Durham (1940 probate record
Education: Durham School (1896-1899)
Employment: Bank clerk (1901 and 1911 census)
Bank cashier (1917 RNAS service record)
Family: Parents: John Hardinge Veitch (1841-1898), Mary Louisa Veitch nee Ord (1844-1907)
Siblings: Ernest Hardinge Veitch, John Hardinge Veitch, Charles Neville Veitch, Sydney Neville Veitch, Constance M Veitch, Ethel Louisa Veitch, Mabel L Veitch, Bertha Hardinge Veitch
Wife: Helen Anderson Veitch nee Macfarlane (1891-1956)
Military service:
F30145
Aircraftman second grade, 4 June 1917
Wormwood Scrubs, 1917
Dunkirk, 1917-18
Aircraftman first grade, 4 December 1917
Transferred to RAF, 1 April 1918
230145
Private First Class
Dunkirk, 1918
Transfer to RAF G Reserve 24 February 1919
Deemed discharged, 30 April 1920
Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham | Ian Main
