Hi Caroline
It sounds like the same Edward Veal(My Great Grandfather), but I just spoke to my father (George Veal) and unfortunately he's never heard any mention of Hilda.
I can confirm the other info such as him being being from Southampton, being in the Merchant Navy or Navy in WW1 and marrying Marion Smith from Elphinstone near Tranent, East Lothian.
They had 4 children - Margaret, Edward, William and George and another child who was adopted called James.
George Veal.