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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Dick Dean Palmer
United States Army 10th Field Artillery, "B" Bty.
from:Wyoming
I have always been amazed when I think about my father and his life time. He was born at Wheatland, Platte County, Wyoming in 1897 or 1898 depending on what story you want to believe. When he signed up for Social Security he had a hard time proving when he was born as there was no documentation to offer as proof of birth except an old family bible which noted that he had been born in a year of a great blizzard and hard winter, they accepted 1898 for that reason. An 1898 birth date put his birth prior to the twentieth century and at the end of the horse and buggy days. One of his early jobs was delivering the mail with a team and wagon to Rock River, Wheatland and Medicine Bow, Wyoming, yet he lived to see man walk on the moon. It is hard to believe that both happened in a single life time.
He enlisted in the Army (8th Calvary) at the tender age of 17 and in 1916 was with John J. Pershing chasing Poncho Villa around Arizona along the Mexican border. I remember him telling me stories of that period. He told of the heat, the dust and how a member of their detachment was killed one night by a shot from across the border in Mexico. After that deployment he was reassigned to The Third Division, Battery “B” 10th Field Artillery, and went over seas with the American Expeditionary Force under General John J. Pershing in 1917.
Having arrived in France in May of 1917 the 3rd Division continued training exercises and some of its elements were assigned to duty with French and English divisions, fighting under their command. These elements preformed with great efficiency and distinction, and were cited for their bravery under fire by foreign Commanders. As a result the entire division under American leadership was assigned to the eastern end of the front lines for the coming German Offensive during the 2nd Battle of the Marne. As fate would have it, in arguably the most important battle of WWI, the 3rd Division was to hold the area that bore the brunt of the German advance, and the 10th Field Artillery was to support the 38th Infantry, the Battalion that held back the German onslaught and earned the Division the title “Rock of the Marne.”
As Dad told it to me; on July 14, 1918 the 3rd Division moved to the front and took up positions near Chateau Terrie for the coming Second Battle of the Marne. At times moving up during the night the artillery barrage along the front was a continual all night roar that reminded him of a distant storm where lightning continually illuminated the horizon. On the night of the 14th, however, the German guns were silent. Battery “B” took up positions on the forward slope of a hill in support of the 38th Division that held the front lines with French Divisions to the left and right. The French Divisions retreated during the night and left their flanks exposed. The Germans could now occupy the front and both flanks, nearly surrounding them. If the 3rd Division had failed to hold, the road would have been open to Paris, and the war would have had a different ending.
The guns of Battery “B” opened fire about midnight on the 14th and the German barrage started about ½ hour later. During the early part of the bombardment all the Division telephone communications were knocked out and most of the communications personnel were killed, they then had only runners to communicate with the rear headquarters. During the night as shells were expended, ammunitions were brought forward from the rear ammunition dumps with 4 horse teams and wagons. On one trip, with two wagons, my father was on the first wagon leading the horse on the front left when a German shell hit between the horses killing all four horses, the man on the right front lead horse and three other men. The remaining wagon was loaded by the survivors and they returned to the guns. This is the action for which Dad, and two others were awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. He was also gassed during the war and had a 25% service connected disability as a result which brought him a $25.00 per month pension deducted dollar for dollar from his Social Security Pension of $750.00.
Late in the morning with only two guns still operating, and down to their last two rounds of shrapnel, the gun crews were ordered to hold at all cost, fire their last two rounds point blank into the advancing German troops, spike their guns (rendering them inoperative) and with the other gun crews to resist with small arms.
Since an earlier call had gone out for volunteers to act a runners, due to the heavy casualties in the communications companies, Dad and a Privet 1st Class Ravenscroft volunteered to act as runners and reported to the Head Quarters Company during the night of the 15th of July. Due to the confusion on the Battle Field they were reported Missing in Action and letters were sent to their next of kin. They were held by Head Quarters Company as runners until August 20th when they made their way back to Battery “B”. If memory serves, I believe he told me that this is the act for which he was awarded the Bronze Star. Dad remained with the Battery for the rest of the war and served in the Army of Occupation in Germany until returning home in 1919.
Upon returning home after the war Dad’s father informed him that they didn’t find out he was still alive until September when they received a letter he had written August 7th 1918.
his combat service in WWI he received the Bronze Star, Silver Star, Purple Heart, French Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star and the WWI Victory Medal with 5 campaign stars. His Unit was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for their support of the 38th Infantry Division and he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross which he never received due to exigency of the Service; the war having ended.
I have been trying to obtain his service records since his passing in 1995 but have been informed that those records were destroyed in a fire in the records bureau in Kansas City in the 1970’s. I am still trying by other sources and will continue to do so. I would like to have the written citations for his various medals.
I have a copy of the History of the 3rd Div. WW1 printed shortly after the war that verifies the events related above but leaves out the names of enlisted men.
Pte Edgar Herbert Palmer
British Army 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers
from:1, Claremont Villas, Highfields, Coalville, Leicester
(d.28th March 1918)
Palmer, Edgar, Herbert. Private, 60024 Aged 19 years, Killed in action on 28th March 1918.
Remembered on the Pozieres Memorial panel 16 to 18.
Son of Benjamin Palmer, of 1, Claremont Villas, Highfields, Coalville, Leicester, and the late Annie Palmer.
From the Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour
Pte Edward Palmer
British Army 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.29th May 1918)
Palmer, Edward. Private, 19/1411, Killed on 29th May 1918.
Remembered on the Soissons Memorial, Aisne.
19th Battalion Service History shows him as having been transferred to 14th N.F.
From the 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour.
Pte. Frank Palmer
British Army 8th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment
from:Ashby-de-la-Zouch
(d.3rd July 1916)
Pte. Fred Palmer
British Army 9th Btn. Suffolk Regiment
from:Icklingham, Suffolk
(d.28th Aug 1916)
Fred Palmer served with the 9th Suffolk Regiment.
Pte. George Palmer MSM.
British Army 30th Coy Labour Corps
from:London
George Palmer was my grandfather who died in the year of my birth 1949. As a child I was told that he won his medal saving the life of a fellow soldier who had fallen into a frozen river in 1917. I love to be able to confirm this but in any event would welcome any details as to where and if his battalion saw action during WW1.
Pte. H. Palmer
British Army 1st/5th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.27th Oct 1916)
Pte. H. Palmer served with th Northumberland Fusiliers 1st/5th Battalion.He was executed for desertion on 27th October 1916 and is buried in Albert Communal Cemetery, Somme, France,
Dvr. Henry Palmer
British Army 3rd Div Signal Coy Royal Engineers
Pte. Henry Adam Palmer
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
J. Palmer
British Army 15th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
(d.1st Jul 1916)
Pte. J. Palmer
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
2nd Lt. John Stanley Palmer
British Army Durham Light Infantry
from:Mortlake, Middlesex
(d.18th Oct 1916)
Second Lieutenant John Palmer, was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Palmer, of 36 East Sheen Avenue. He was educated at Kings College, Wimbledon, and entered Guys Hospital in 1910. He qualified L.D.S. of the Royal College of Surgeons, Eng., in 1913, and was appointed dental house surgeon.
He served for five years in the Artists Rifles and entered Sandhurst in May 1915 being appointed to the Durham Light Infantry in October 1915. He went to the front in May 1916 and became sniping and intelligence officer, being complimented for his work by Divisional Headquarters. He was acting adjutant when wounded. He died of his wounds on 18th of October 1916 aged 26. He is buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte. He is listed in the Guy's Hospital Memorial of those members of staff who died during WW1
Pte. John Albert Palmer
British Army 16th Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
from:Bristol
My Grandad, Jack Palmer, died long before I was born, so the information I have is sketchy. He died at 50 from the effect of being gassed from his time serving in WW1. His son, my father, was only 11 when he died, but he always said his father was an old man at the age of 40.
Jack was 28 when he joined up and I have learnt from medical records and research that he was posted to France on 10th of July 1916 and was sent home on 13th of September 1916. I have worked out that he would've fought in the Battle for High Wood and he received a gunshot wound to his right forearm. He was discharged from the Army a year later due to this wound and being not physically fit for service.
He never truly recovered, but at least did marry and have a son. We are all very proud of him and his generation.
Pte. M. Palmer
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Swalwell
M Palmer was discharged in 1917 sick
Margaret Bessie Palmer
Womens Auxiliary Army Corps
Margaret Palmer served as a cook at Bovington Camp, here in 1917 she met her husband Andrew Graham who was a machine gunnery instructor. Andrew and Margaret emigrated to New Zealand in 1920s and had two daughters.
Pte. Percy Charles Palmer
British Army 9th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment
from:Croft, Leicester
(d.25th September 1916)
Gnr. Percy Samuel J. Palmer
British Army 117th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Sutton Coldfield
Percy Palmer served in the 117th Heavy Battery for the duration of the war. He survived and became Superintendant of Park & Gardens for the Borough of Sutton Coldfield.
Cpl. Richard Palmer
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
from:Birmingham
(d.14th Jul 1916)
Pte. Robert Palmer
British Army 17th Btn. Middlesex Regiment
from:Carleton Rode, Norfolk
(d.13th Nov 1916)
I have very little knowledge of my great uncle Robert Palmer, I can't find any service records at all. He served with the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment and died on 13th November 1916. He is buried at Serre Road cemetery No. 2, and his death certificate says he died in action. His name is on the local village memorial where he lived.
Sgt. Robert Palmer MM.
British Army Northumberland Fusiliers
Robert Palmer went to France with the Northumberland Fusiliers. He wasn't there long before he was wounded and sent home. A piece of shrapnel went through his front side and out the back, missing his ribs. This soon healed and he was sent back to the front but this time with the East Yorkshire Regiment. He rose in the ranks, becoming a sergeant.
He received another wound but this time it was a bad one. A piece of shrapnel went in the front of his face on the bridge of his nose and exited at the back below his ear. It took the sight of his left eye, the roots of his teeth, some sweat glands and his sense of taste. Another soldier carried him on his back to a dressing station. He had a red label tied on him, which meant he was not expected to survive. However, he did, and landed up in Edinburgh.
Rfmn. Rupert Palmer
British Army 3rd Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps
(d.16th June 1918)
Sydney Albert Palmer
Canadian Expeditionary Force 9th Btn Canadian Mounted Rifles
I believe Sydney Albert Palmer to be our grandfather, originally from London who joined the Canadian overseas expeditionary force in 1914/1915. We have his attestation papers and believe he was injured during the war and sent to convalesce in Earsdon, Northumberland a hospital on Earsdon Road. It was here he met our grandmother Mary Bruce Palmer and they married in 1917. Because of his injuries he died a few years after the war, possibly in 1925/1926. What we don't have are discharge papers, pension records etc and would like advice on how to get them. He enlisted in December 1914 in Saskatoon Canada.
Pte. Wilfred Palmer
British Army 8th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment
from:Croft, Leicester
(d.15th July 1916)
Sgt. William Palmer
British Army Yorkshire Regiment
Pte. William Palmer
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Littleport Camb.
(d.1st July 1916)
William Palmer, age 19 years is named on the Thiepval Memorial
Pte. William Edward Palmer
British Army 11th Battalion, C Coy. Cheshire Regiment
from:Rednal, Warwickshire
(d.15th June 1917)
Pte. William Palmer
British Army 9th Coy., 5th section Labour Corps
I know nothing about my father's family but we have an old postcard addressed to Daddy Palmer from Alice. The address is 8774 Private W Palmer 5th sec 9th Labour Company. GPOS 20 asc.
Pte. William Robert Palmer
British Army 717th Mechanical Transport Coy. Royal Army Service Corps
from:East Ham
(d.25th Apr 1918)
William Palmer of the 717th Mechanical Transport Coy. Army Service Corps attached to IX Corps Heavy Artillery was killed in action on the 25th of April 1918. He is buried at Klein Vierstraat British Cemetery in Belgium Born in Southampton and resident in East Ham, he enlisted at Grove Park. Son of Thomas and Thirza Palmerm husband of Margaret Josephine Palmer of 18, Sutherland Gardens, East Sheen, London.
Pte. William Charles Frank Palmer
British Army 13th (Wandsworth) Battalion East Surrey Regiment
from:Wandsworth, Surrey
William Palmer is my grandfather. I know very little about his service during WW1. I know that he was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal He was born in Southwark on 2nd February 1899, he married Edith May Bull on 26th June 1926, and died in 1986 at St John's Hospital in Battersea
William George Palmer
British Army 17th Btn Kings Royal Rifles Corps
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