Name
Alfred John Palmer
1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
19299
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. IPPOLLITTS (ST. IPPOLYT) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
St Ippolyts Village Memorial, St Ippolyts Church Roll of Honour, Not on the Hitchin Memorials
Pre War
Alfred was born in 1883, in St Ippolyts, Herts. The son of Daniel Palmer a Carpenter and Agnes Palmer (Nee Lumber). He was Baptised on the 9th October 1883, in the Parish of St Ippolyts, Herts. One of six children.
The 1891 Census records Alfred aged 7, at school, living with his parents 2 brothers and sister Annie 9, at The Greyhound Inn, St Ippolyts, Herts.
The 1901 Census records Alfred aged 17, living at home with his parents 3 brothers and 2 sisters Annie 19, Jane 4, at The Greyhound Inn, London Road, St Ippolyts, Hitchin, Herts. His occupation is given as a Carpenters Apprentice.
The 1911 Census records Alfred 27, single living at home with his widowed mother, 2 brothers Herbert 25, George 16 and sister Janet 14, at The Greyhound P.H. London Road, St Ippolyts, Hitchin, Herts. His occupation is given as a General Carpenter.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted at Bedford. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. With the service number 19299. Landing in France on the 17th August 1915, and promoted to Lance Corporal.
Alfred was wounded in action brought back to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, he died of his wound at home on the 23rd April 1918 and was buried in St Ippolyts Churchyard, St Ippolyts, Herts, on the 26th April 1918.
The Hertfordshire Express reported on the 4th of May 1918:
"Deep sorrow has been expressed with the family at the death from wounds received in action of Sergeant Alfred John Palmer, Beds. Regiment, eldest son of the late Mr. Daniel Palmer and of Mrs. Agnes Palmer, of the Greyhound Inn, London-road, St. Ippolyts, which took place in Netley Hospital on April 23. He received a severe gun shot wound in the head in France on March 21. After treatment at a base hospital, he was brought to Netley on April 1. He was visited before the end came by his mother, sister, and Miss Maud Palmer, of Gosmore, his fiancée. This brave soldier has won the esteem of many families in the neighbourhood for his upright character and reliability as a good workman. He took up carpentering work after his father's death, and was known throughout a wide district in connexion with jobs for numerous farming clients. He was 34 years of age, and had been wounded twice before, in both hands, during the two years and and seven months he had been in France. He was last home on leave above seven weeks ago. George Harry, another son, serving in the R.E. Wireless, is now in France, where he has served fourteen months. Two other sons have been discharged from the Army.
FUNERAL SERVICE
Amid many manifestations of sympathy the funeral of the late Sergeant A. J. Palmer took place in the Parish Churchyard, St. Ippolyts, on Saturday afternoon, with full military honours. The coffin had been conveyed by rail, and was conveyed to the Greyhound Inn. Assembling at the house shortly after 2.15, the Band of the R. E. Signal Depot, by kind permission of Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Rose, T. D., R. E.) attended, being conducted by Sergeant Warsnop, in the unavoidable absence of M.S.M. Robinson. As the coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was borne into the church, Miss L. Scarborough, A.R.C.M., L.L.C.M., played suitable voluntaries. The hymn, "On the Resurrection Morning" was sung, and as the coffin was carried out of the church the "Dead March" was played by the organist. A guard of honour was formed by the firing party at the church door.
The family mourners present were Mrs. D. Palmer (mother), Miss Maude Palmer (deceased's fiancée), Mr. Herbert Palmer and Mrs. A. Peters (brother and sister), Mr. A. Peters and Miss Janet Palmer (brother-in-law and sister), Mr. C. Palmer, Forest Gate (uncle), Mrs. J. Palmer, Gosmore (aunt), Mr. and Mrs. George Jepps, Watton-at-Stone (uncle and aunt), Mr. S. Peters (uncle), Miss H. E. Peters Miss E. Palmer, Miss F. Jepps, Mr. P. Peters (Hitchin) and Mr. H. George Palmer (cousins), Miss Glazebrook, Provates [sic]Taylor and Blaydon (friends).
Among those present were Major H. G. Amos, D.S.O., Mr. J. J. P. Cole, Mrs. Thornton (Sloe-hill), Miss H. Cook and Miss Leonard (Almshoe), Sergeant Will Allen (Ampthill Depot), and Lance-Corporal P. Waldock (Beds. Regiment).
The coffin bore the inscription: - "Sergeant A. J. Palmer, 2nd Bedfords; died April 23, 1918; 35 years." There was a number of floral tributes. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr. George Kirby."
His medal card has him as Acting Sergeant Alfred Palmer.
Additional Information
Alfred enlisted in Bedford with his younger brother Herbert, both were posted to the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Alfred with the service number 19299 and Herbert with the service number 19297. Herbert survived the war, and died in 1954 aged 68. His mother Agnes Palmer received a dependents pension of 9/- a week from 29 October 1918, his Pay Owing of £12-10s-3d, and a War Gratuity of £15.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Derry Warners
Stuart Osborne
