Ernest Hardinge Veitch

Born in 1876 in Durham, he was commissioned in the 8th Battalion 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, he rejoined 8 DLI as Adjutant at Gilesgate, Durham, a position he held until 1923. In 1927, Ernest Veitch - whose family were printers in North Road, Durham - wrote the history of 8 DLI during the Great War.