No.3/7490, Lance Corporal, Oscar Ernest PALMER
Aged 31
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Oscar Ernest Palmer was born in Lakenheath (Mildenhall Q4-1886 4A:703), son of Walter and Laura PALMER (née FULLER).
1891 census...Aged 4, he was at Eriswell Road, Lakenheath with his father Walter PALMER [36] farm labourer; his mother Laura [33] born Eriswell; brother Ivan Walter [6] and sister Ethel L [2]. All except his mother were born in Lakenheath. 1901 census...Aged 14, farm labourer, he was at Lackford Road, Flempton with his parents (father now yardman on farm); brothers Ivan (farm labourer) and Walter O L [5] born Lakenheath; sister Ethel L and Ann FULLER [79] (grandmother ?). 1911 census...Aged 24, farm labourer, he was in Flempton with his parents and brother Walter (farm labourer) and 2 boarders. |
| He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds .
It wasn't strictly necessary for him to have served in Belgium, or with the Belgians, to receive their Croix de Guerre. Many such foreign awards were offered in batches by the governments concerned for distribution to British personnel. What was required was a nomination by his unit commander that he be awarded one of them. The battalion would have received a message from Division etc. saying "please nominate one officer, NCO or Other Rank for a Belgian Croix De Guerre.". Some of course were actually selected for bravery by the Belgians. Just before the Kaiserschlacht, the German Spring offensive, the British Army was weakened so far as to reduce divisions from 13 to 10 brigades and brigades from 4 battalions ( 2 in and 2 out of the line) to three, 2 in and one out, hence 2 tours in the line and only one out. Added to which the Germans were able, since the Russian Revolution, to move many battle hardened troops from the Eastern to the Western Front. The German offensive began on 21st March. On the 28th the 2nd Suffolks were in the front line overlooking Wancourt. At 3 am a violent bombardment was opened on them, continuing until 6:45. The 15th Division on the left were seen retreating, followed by the Germans, which left the Suffolks left flank open and by 11 am the Germans had penetrated their line. Two German batteries then came up and knocked out the Suffolks machine guns. The situation deteriorated still further and at 4 pm the order was given to withdraw to a line just north of Neuville Vitasse (which was occupied by the Germans). They were eventually relieved by the Canadians on the 30th. The 2nd Suffolks had 67 killed on 28 March 1918, only 12 have identified graves. |
The Palmer family stone photo: nic_2 via warmemorialsonline.org.uk photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
LANC CPL OSCAR ERNEST 2ND SUFF
THEIR SECOND SON
WHO FELL IN FRANCE MARCH 28TH 1918
WHERE HE HAD BEEN FIGHTING 3 YEARS 7 MONTHS
AGED 31 YEARS
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details