PALMER, Thomas George William
| Service Number: | 677 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 August 1914, Morphettville, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Millbrook, South Australia, 3 June 1887 |
| Home Town: | Millbrook, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Millbrook Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 27 April 1915, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cudlee Creek Millbrook Public School Roll of Honour, Gumeracha Our Fallen Heroes WW1 Honour Board, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 677, Morphettville, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 677, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 677, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 677, 10th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli |
P.H. BAULDERSTONE
Pte. Percy Harold Baulderstone, 744, 12Bn., AIF, DOW 02/07/1915 was also a
Greatgrandson of William PIKE.
Submitted 23 September 2020 by Graham PIKE
PIKE & PALMER
John Lloyd PIKE 5054, 27Bn AIF, Raymond Roy PALMER 433, 10Bn AIF KIA and
Thomas George William PALMER 677, 10Bn AIF KIA, were the Greatgrandsons of
William PIKE, who came to Australia in 1852.
Submitted 24 August 2020 by Graham PIKE
Biography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
Thomas George William Palmer (Service number 677) was born on the 3rd of June 1887 in Millbrook, South Australia. Palmer is the son of P. Cox (mother) and the father is unknown. He was born into a Methodist family, was fair skinned, green eyes and had tan hair.
When Thomas was at the at an appropriate age to attend school in 1892, he was enrolled to Millbrook Primary School. He completed his primary education at Millbrook in 1899 and from there attended Millbrook Secondary College, there he completed his schooling career in 1905 and became a labourer.
Labourers' work depends on the worksites where they’re employed. Palmer was a general labourer which means he was involved in all aspects of labour. In construction and manufacturing, the term typically refers to tasks that have some degree of physicality, although it is not strictly physical labour. General labourers may be asked to complete a broad range of tasks. Some tasks will be non-complex and easily learned; others may require some time and training to ensure the task is completed in a safe and efficient manner. Most tasks do not require advanced degrees or years of specialized training, but general labourers may assist specialized contractors, such as carpenters or masons on a construction site.
On the 28TH of August 1914 Palmer enlisted to be part of the A.I.F in the 10th Infantry Battalion for World War 1, only 7 months from the Gallipoli campaign, from this he was entitled to earn the 1914-1915 star medal which is given to all men who served overseas before the end of 1915.
During the 2 months that Palmer had to prepare for the war he trained in Mitcham. Training and preparation consisted of things like: Simple first aid to treat small bullet wounds or illness, how to maintain and use a rifle, marching in synchrony and lots of cardio training, cardio training was so important as men would be holding 20-30kg of weight when running in the hot sun or at night. These aspects are vital for a successful war campaign. On the 20th of October 1914 Palmer and his battalion departed Australia and headed to the Gallipoli peninsula.
On the 25th of April 1915 ANZAC troops landed on the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula with a pure goal of capturing the land. The 9th, 10th and 1th Battalions were the first wave of troops to land, Palmer obviously being on the 10th. Upon landing his battalion crossed lines with the 9th losing the formation that the commanders set. This caused major complications as men including Palmer were confused not only on their location but it was also 4:30 in the morning meaning it was pitch black.
Palmer survived the bombardment of shrapnel and bullets up landing and made it to the land and to cover. He and hundreds of others built makeshift trenches to defend themselves from the Ottomans before eventually pushing inwards towards the enemy
The 26th of April consisted of nothing but laying in a trench waiting to be given orders on what to do. Many people were diagnosed with a thing called trench foot, trench foot is caused from putting your feet in cold water for long periods of time, the water was in the trenches thus the name trench foot. Palmer was lucky and did not catch this which would have ended his war campaign and would have been sent home for treatment.
On the 27th of April Palmer and other ANZACS were ordered to go over the top and make a push towards hill Chunuk Bair. The soldiers put on the packs which had a first aid kit, a canteen of water and other important goods and grabbed their weapons which was a rifle that had a one bullet chamber.
The soldiers marched up the hills trying to make it to Chunuk Bair. The Ottomans were prepared with hundreds of soldiers on the hill hiding in trenches. Many shots were fired at the ANZACS killing many. Palmer was unfortunately at the wrong place at the wrong time and was killed that day. His cause of death is unknown but estimates were made that it had been a bullet, shrapnel or a medical problem.
Thomas George William Palmer was buried in the Lone Pine Memorial in Turkey with thousands of his friends.
After the war ended in 1918 Palmer’s family were given the following medals that Palmer had won:
1914-15 Star Medal
The Victory Medal
British War Medal
Biography contributed by Sharyn Schell
Mother is Charlotte Anne Cox, father is Thomas William Palmer (died 1897, Brighton, South Australia).
Click images to start slideshow.