Frederick William Palmer
Lance Sergeant, 22nd Battalion. Royal Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 957 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance Sergeant (register: Lance-Sergeant) all Lance-Sergeants →
- Unit
- 22nd Battalion. Royal Fusiliers all Royal Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 16–17 February 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 3rd April 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 11th November 1891 at Hammersmith, London
- Died
- 10th September, 1955 at Hordle, Hampshire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
North of Courcelette, France, on the 16th/17th February 1917, when all his officers had become casualties, Lance Sergeant PALMER assumed command of his company. Under point-blank machine-gun fire he cut his way through barbed wire entanglements. He and six of his men rushed the enemy trench and dislodged an enemy machine gun which had hampered the advance. He collected men detached from other regiments and held the barricade for almost three hours against seven determined counter-attacks under a continuous barrage of bombs and rifle grenades from his flank and front. Lance Sergeant PALMER went in search of more bombs and in the short absence an 8th counter-attack, from the enemy, succeeded in driving his party back, threatening the defence of the whole flank. Although he'd been blown off his feet by a bomb and was exhausted, rallying his men he drove back the enemy and maintained his position. his determination and devotion to duty undoubtedly averted what might have been a disaster in this sector of the line
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PALMER, Frederick William. (reg No. 957).
Lance Sergeant. 22nd Battalion. Royal Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 3rd April 1917.
Born on 11th November 1891 at Hammersmith, London.
Died on 10th September, 1955 at Hordle, Hampshire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: North of Courcelette, France, on the 16th/17th February 1917, when all his officers had become casualties, Lance Sergeant PALMER assumed command of his company. Under point-blank machine-gun fire he cut his way through barbed wire entanglements. He and six of his men rushed the enemy trench and dislodged an enemy machine gun which had hampered the advance. He collected men detached from other regiments and held the barricade for almost three hours against seven determined counter-attacks under a continuous barrage of bombs and rifle grenades from his flank and front. Lance Sergeant PALMER went in search of more bombs and in the short absence an 8th counter-attack, from the enemy, succeeded in driving his party back, threatening the defence of the whole flank. Although he'd been blown off his feet by a bomb and was exhausted, rallying his men he drove back the enemy and maintained his position. his determination and devotion to duty undoubtedly averted what might have been a disaster in this sector of the line.
Additional information:. Second Lieutenant PALMER also held the Military Medal (MM).
Additional information
Second Lieutenant PALMER also held the Military Medal (MM).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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