A devotion to service
Lionel was ‘fortunate’ to survive war years
WHEN it comes to lifelong service to the community, you’d be hard pressed to find a more devoted practitioner than Lionel Percy Vivian Veale, OAM.
Mr Veale, who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his service to the community of the Gold Coast, passed away peacefully at Southport on August 19, nine days short of his 100th birthday.
Born in Armidale, NSW, on August 30, 1918 – less than three months before the end of World War I – Mr Veale’s long life was marked by an unwavering devotion to serving others and the greater good.
The eldest of seven children, he landed his first job at Fossey’s department store and joined the army cadets in 1934.
Mr Veale enlisted in the Australian Army at Tamworth, in NSW, on July 11, 1940 and fought in World War II, serving as a Coastwatcher in Allied Intelligence for five years and providing vital intelligence.
Mr Veale passed away days before he was due to be honoured at a tribute lunch on the Gold Coast on Monday – his 100th birthday – for “old soldiers” from the Coastwatchers and members of the “Z” Operatives.
The special project, supported by the RSL, Defence Department, the US Navy and conducted by Operation Pilgrimage Group, was organised to honour the few remaining men who protected Australia by blowing up enemy shipping in the heart of Japan’s wartime stronghold.
Mr Veale wrote about his experiences in three books – Wewak Mission, Long Island and The Final Mission – and the novel And Then There Were Two.
Australian-American Association treasurer Howard Campbell told the Bulletin in 2012 the Coastwatchers were “the spooks of the war”.
“Lionel was behind enemy lines most of the time, reporting on what he saw,” Mr Campbell said.
“He is probably responsible for saving a tremendous amount of lives in Australia.”
In a 2012 interview, Mr Veale said he was fortunate to have survived. “There were 80 men in the Coastwatchers. Forty-two of us were captured and decapitated by the enemy because they (we) were classified as spies,” he said.
“The Coastwatchers passed on intelligence from their jungle hideouts and they made a difference to the battle.”
Mr Veale said he was haunted for years by what he saw while being hunted by Japanese forces in Papua New Guinea.
“I did not settle down for a long time and would wake up screaming,” he told the Bulletin on Anzac Day 2014.
“It still happens sometimes when I close my eyes, I find myself back in the war again.”
Mr Veale married his late wife Patricia Greiner, from Beaudesert, in 1944, and moved to the Gold Coast after they honeymooned in Southport.
Mr Veale worked for the Postal Institute for 20 years before opening retail business Atelyn Enterprises in Ferry Rd, Southport.
He served as president of St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland’s Gold Coast Regional Council from 1970-75, was president and treasurer of the Australian Postal Institute Southport branch for 20 years and performed in the Banana Blenders Choir and the Gold Coast City Choir.
His unwavering commitment to community service earned him numerous awards and accolades including the 2011 Gold Coast City Council Community Service Award.
Mr Veale and his late wife Patricia, who passed away the day of their 65th wedding anniversary in 2009, are survived by their son and three daughters, 25 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Mr Veale’s daughter Leanne Lowry told the Bulletin this month her father had maintained his “wicked sense of humour” in recent months even as his health declined.
“Lionel is an amazing character, still young at heart with an interest in other people’s needs,” she said before his death.
“He says the best thing is being able to give of yourself. He is an Australian through and through.”
Mr Veale will be farewelled at a service for family and friends at Simplicity Funerals, in Olsen Ave, Parkwood, on Monday at 11am.
Southport RSL Sub Branch will conduct a Poppy Service at the family’s request.