Thomas Henry Edom Veal was born in Sholing, Southampton, Hampshire, England in the Spring of 1874. He was the son of John Veal (1842-1920) and Ann Yates (b. 1843).

His father was a carter and his mother a laundress, both hailing from Southampton. They were married in 1867 and besides Thomas had a further four children: Elizabeth Ann (b. 1869), John Henry (b. 1871), James (b. 1877) and Albert Edward (b. 1879). Thomas' father later became a grocer and operated his own business.

Thomas and his family are listed on the 1881 census living at Temperance Cottage, Botany Bay, South Stoneham. The family were still here by the time of the 1891 and 1901 census reports but Thomas was absent on both occasions, perhaps already at sea.

Thomas was married in late-1902 to his namesake Agnes Leonora Veal (b. 1880 in Southampton, daughter of Ernest Veal, a joiner, and Sarah Hibberd) and they had one son, Leonard Thomas Joseph (b. 15 May 1903).

The family appear on the 1911 census living at 66 Hartington Road, Southampton and Thomas is described as a ship's steward in the merchant service.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, Thomas gave his address as 20 Forster Road, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Olympic. As a saloon steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s.

Veal died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

His widow Agnes was remarried towards the end of 1913 to Lewis Arthur Wynhall Richards (1877-1942) but would have no further children. Agnes and her second husband died within weeks of each other in early 1942.

Thomas' son Leonard was never married and remained in Southampton where he died in 1985.

Thomas is remembered on a headstone in Millbrook churchyard, Southampton.