Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Karoola’ A63 for 25.6.1915.
Roll Rank Corporal.
Roll Unit 11th Battalion, 25th Reinf.
The Palmer with the 11th Bn. disembarked at Suez and marched in to the Bn. Training Camp. The Bn. moved to Alexandria, joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) and embarked for the Dardanelles per HMS ‘Berrima’ 31.7.1915. Palmer reverted to rank of Private at his own request when the unit was taken on strength 4.8.1915. The Bn. was engaged in the Battle of Lone Pine. Palmer was reported sick with diarrhoea 8.9.1915, taken to the Casualty Clearing Station 11.9.1915 and evacuated by HS to Montazah Hospital at Mudros 20.9.1915. From Mudros he was transported to Mena House Hospital in Cairo 21.9.1915. This hotel had been converted to the 2nd Australian General Stationary Hospital. Palmer convalesced for almost a month and was discharged to duty at Zietoun on 21.10.1919. He rejoined his Unit at Sarpi Camp Lemnos 19.11.1915. He was admitted to hospital with Pyrexia (fever of unknown origin) 14.12.1915. He was transferred to a HS 8.1.1916 and became ill with a fever 11.1.1916. He was admitted to Hospital at Heliopolis with meningitis 18.1.1916. Palmer was listed for early return to Australia as an invalid, post Meningitis ‘for 6 months change’.
He embarked at Suez for return to Australia per HT ‘Argyllshire’ 3.3.1916 and disembarked at Fremantle 30.3.1916. Palmer was discharged from the 11th Bn. 24.7.1916 as an Invalid with a debility post meningitis.
He re- enlisted 31.1.1917 with a new Service Number 7569 and embarked at Fremantle per HMAT ‘Borda’ A30 for England 26.9.1917. He re-enlisted as a Private with the with the 11th Bn. 25th Reinf.
Palmer disembarked at Plymouth with the 11th Bn. 25th Reinf., and marched in to the 3rd Training Bn. Camp 25.8.1917. This unit proceeded overseas to France 18.10.1917 to fight in the trenches on the Somme. They marched into the Australian Div. Bde. Details (ADBD) at Havre for further training 19.10.1917, before being taken on strength with the 11th Bn. 26.10.1917. Palmer was admitted to the 1st Field Ambulance Hospital with scabies and then transferred to the 25th General Hospital for treatment 25.10.1917. He rejoined his Unit on the Somme in the trenches and 3 months later was admitted to the 7th General Hospital with mumps 20.2.1918. He was re admitted to hospital with scabies 7.7.1918. Palmer was wounded in action in the attack on Hamel 16.7.1918 receiving a GSW to the Buttocks. He was transferred to Hospital by the Field Ambulance, to the 13th USA Hospital 17.7.1918. Palmer was transferred to the No.1 Convalescent Depot 31.7.1918 before being discharged to Base. He rejoined his unit 15.10.1918. Palmer was granted leave to the UK 4.11.1918 and rejoined his unit 3 weeks later. He embarked from France for Southampton for Non Military Employment 24.3.1919. Palmer was granted pre embarkation leave for 3 weeks until 12.7.1919.
Embarked for return to Australia per ‘Baramabah’ 3.9.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 17.10.1919.
Discharged 17.11.1919.
Final Rank ER Cpl. 11th Infantry Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition NK.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos Hospital Ship  'Karoola'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P03968.00
             Cemetery near Lone Pine 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM C01486
             HMAT 'Argyllshire' 1914-15. Postcard by Geyer Studio NSW, Photograph source AWM P10581.002
             Returned Anzacs- and all going Back. Front right Cpl. Walter H.Palmer. Sunday Times 20.5.1917 p3
          

Information Source
AWM P03968.001. Hospital Ship  'Karoola'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM C01486. Cemetery near Lone Pine 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P10581.002. HMAT 'Argyllshire' 1914-15. Postcard by Geyer Studio NSW, Photograph sourced from the  Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
Sunday Times
NAA: B2455, Palmer Walter Henry
AWM Embarkation Roll Walter Henry Palmer
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories

‘Ballantrae’, Caversham, near Guildford, WA.

Associated Images