No.5222, Private, Frederick PALMER
Aged 19
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Frederick Palmer was born in Soham (Newmarket Q3-1896 3B:537) son of George and Elizabeth Ann PALMER(née SARGENT) of Qua Fen Common, Soham.
It appears that his father was first married to Martha STRAWSON who died Q4-1891. They had four children, Ernest [1881], George [1885], Eliza [1887], Albert (1890). There are however only conflicting birth registrations have been found for the children of this marriage, in fact registrations with mother's name STRAWSON have not been found. His father then married Elizabeth Ann SARGENT in Q1-1895-Newmarket 1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Qua Fen Common, Soham with his mother Elizabeth PALMER [30] born Gazeley; half brother George [16] farm labourer, born Ely, half brother Albert [9] half-brother ? James [7] both born Newmarket; half sister Eliza [14] born Newmarket, sisters Sarah Ann Elizabeth [3] and Eveline May [1] born born Soham. The whereabouts of his father is unknown, made more difficult by transcription errors in his age in other census. 1911 census...Aged 14, farm labourer, he was at Hasse Road, Soham with his father George PALMER [53] roadman, born Soham; his mother Elizabeth; brothers George (threshing machinery), Albert (farm labourer) and James (threshing machinery), Thomas [7], Arthur [6] and Robert [3] the three born in Soham; sisters Elizabeth, Evelyn and Rose [1 month] born in Soham. |
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He enlisted in Soham.
The often used name for the Yorkshire Regiment was the Green Howards The 5th Battalion HQ were in Swansea Trench near Mametz at that time, The war diary for 25th simply states 1 OR killed, 10 wounded. Frederick Palmer was the only one of the battalion to die that day. He died in No 2 Northumbrian Field Ambulance Local press report:- Pte.Fred Palmer, second son of Mr. and Mrs.Geo.Palmer of Qua Fen, Soham was killed on Sept,25th. An official intimation was received by the parents on Friday. Information received from other sources stated that he was wounded on that date in the chest by a shrapnel bullet, by which it seems evident that death was caused. The late Pte.Palmer, who was only 20 years of age, enlisted in November 1915, and went to France on Aug,30th.He had only been there about a month before being fatally wounded. Mr.and Mrs. Palmer's other son, James, who enlisted at the same time, is serving with the Suffolk Regt. in France.
Frederick Palmer's original burial place photo: Roy Beardsworth click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
