Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Port Melbourne' A 16 for England 30.10.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 27th Battalion, 16th Reinf.
Palmer was sick at sea and admitted to the ship’s hospital 10 -12.12.1916. He disembarked at Devonport 28.12.1916 and marched in to 7th Training Bn. at Rollestone 29.12.1916. After a period of intensive training, he proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone per HT ‘Invicta’ 8.2.1917. He joined his unit 6.3.1917. The 27th Bn. entered the front line trenches in March 1917 and fought their first major battle at Pozieres in July and August and the capture of Broodseinde Ridge in October 1917. Palmer was promoted to L/Cpl. in Belgium 30.12.1917. He took leave in England 21.1.1918 and rejoined his unit 21.3.1918. He fought with his Bn. against the German Spring Offensive in March and later at Hamel and Amiens in October 1918. Palmer marched out of France with the 27th Bn. for return to England 16.5.1919. He disembarked at Southampton and marched in to Sutton Veny 17.5.1919 for return to Australia.
Embarked for Australia per HT ‘Main’ 23.7.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 27.9.1919.
Discharged 24.10.1919.
Final Rank L/Cpl 27th Bn. AIF
Medical Condition NK.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Palmer sought replacement Service Records following theft of personal items in 1935. At that time he was living in Renmark. SA.
Photos HMAT 'Port Melbourne'. Photographer Josiah Barnes. Photograph sourced from AWM B0259
             Ruined main Street Pozieres 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM A05776
            View across shell holes from Broodsiende Ridge, Passchendaele area, Ypres, photograph source AWM E01149

Information Source
AWM B0259. HMAT 'Port Melbourne'. Photographer Josiah Barnes. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM A05776. Ruined main Street Pozieres 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  E01149. View across shell holes from Broodsiende Ridge, Passchendaele area, Ypres, photograph sourced from the Pictorial  Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM - Embarkation List Alan Herbert Palmer
NAA: B2455, Palmer Alan Herbert
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories

Caversham, near Guildford, WA.

Associated Images