Sgt
Allan Palmer
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 24/06/1890 |
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Place of birth: Halcombe, Manawatu, New Zealand |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Sergeant |
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Service number: 25301 |
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Enlistment date: 15/03/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Featherston, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Units: — Otago Regiment, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 16/02/1918 |
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Place of death: Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 27 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: I Row: B Grave: 19 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Sergeant Allan Palmer
Allan Palmer was born on 24 June 1890 at Halcombe, Manawatu, New Zealand. He was one of 14 children born to Francis and Jane Palmer.
He was working as a labourer for G.V. Shannon, a Feilding farmer when he enlisted on 15 March 1916 at Featherston. He had previously worked as a coach driver.
Allan was part of the 14th Reinforcement, an early group that trained at the new Featherston Military Training Camp. He embarked from Wellington on 26 June 1916 on the troop ship Maunganui, arriving in Devonport, England on 22 August. He spent a month at Sling Camp with more training before leaving for Etaples, France. On 12 October 1916 he joined 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, just after the New Zealand Division had fought on the Somme.
He was promoted to lance-corporal in April 1917, to corporal in October 1917 and sergeant in February 1918.
After the Third Battle of Ypres closed in November 1917 the New Zealand Division, part of II Anzac Corps, took over a sector on the Ypres Salient. II Anzac frontage ran from Tiber pillboxes (1000m south of Passchendaele) to the Reutalbeek (stream) to the south – a distance of about 8000m. It covered the Polygon Wood area. The country was devastated, waterlogged and covered with the debris of war.
The New Zealand Division was heavily engaged in building defensive lines in this sector. An attempt to strengthen the right of the sector by capturing Polderhoek Spur and its ruined chateaux was made on 3 December, without success and with heavy losses. 1st Otago Battalion took part in this battle.
After a brief period in camp behind the lines the 1st Otago Battalion moved back to the Polygon Wood sector on 8 February 1918. While in support, the battalion provided carrying parties and erected wire entanglements. The Battalion went into the front line in mid-February and it was during this period that Allan Palmer was killed on 16 February. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.
He was buried in a cemetery close to his final burial place in Buttes New British Cemetery, Plot I, Row B, Grave 19. Two other soldiers of 1st Otago Battalion killed on 16 February were buried likewise.
Allan Palmer was born on 24 June 1890 at Halcombe, Manawatu, New Zealand. He was one of 14 children born to Francis and Jane Palmer.
He was working as a labourer for G.V. Shannon, a Feilding farmer when he enlisted on 15 March 1916 at Featherston. He had previously worked as a coach driver.
Allan was part of the 14th Reinforcement, an early group that trained at the new Featherston Military Training Camp. He embarked from Wellington on 26 June 1916 on the troop ship Maunganui, arriving in Devonport, England on 22 August. He spent a month at Sling Camp with more training before leaving for Etaples, France. On 12 October 1916 he joined 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, just after the New Zealand Division had fought on the Somme.
He was promoted to lance-corporal in April 1917, to corporal in October 1917 and sergeant in February 1918.
After the Third Battle of Ypres closed in November 1917 the New Zealand Division, part of II Anzac Corps, took over a sector on the Ypres Salient. II Anzac frontage ran from Tiber pillboxes (1000m south of Passchendaele) to the Reutalbeek (stream) to the south – a distance of about 8000m. It covered the Polygon Wood area. The country was devastated, waterlogged and covered with the debris of war.
The New Zealand Division was heavily engaged in building defensive lines in this sector. An attempt to strengthen the right of the sector by capturing Polderhoek Spur and its ruined chateaux was made on 3 December, without success and with heavy losses. 1st Otago Battalion took part in this battle.
After a brief period in camp behind the lines the 1st Otago Battalion moved back to the Polygon Wood sector on 8 February 1918. While in support, the battalion provided carrying parties and erected wire entanglements. The Battalion went into the front line in mid-February and it was during this period that Allan Palmer was killed on 16 February. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.
He was buried in a cemetery close to his final burial place in Buttes New British Cemetery, Plot I, Row B, Grave 19. Two other soldiers of 1st Otago Battalion killed on 16 February were buried likewise.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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John Palmer
Brother |
Sources 6
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"Official history of the Otago Regiment, NZEF in the Great War 1914-1918", Byrne AE., Dunedin, J. Wilkie and Co, 1921, pg. 266-268. Sources used |
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Archives New Zealand https://archway.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
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Auckland Cenotaph http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph Sources used |
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Births Deaths Marriages New Zealand https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/ Sources used |
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CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480395/PALMER,%20ALLAN Sources used |
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NZEF Project http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/index.html Sources used |