Frederick Thomas Palmer

Rank:

Corporal

Regimental number:

44026

Unit at enlistment:

1st Division Ammunition Column, C.F.A.

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot, Brantford, Ontario

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Greater London

Birth city:

London

Address at enlistment:

16 East Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

16 East Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Labourer

Employer:

Adams Wagon Works

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX January 9, 1917

Are Returning Home

Included in a party of returned men invalided home from England who arrived at Quebec last evening are three Brantford men. Glen Douglas Millard, Fred Thomas Palmer and George Tear.

Private Glen Douglas Millard went overseas with the 84th Battalion and was wounded last September. It is thought probable that the Palmer is Corp. Palmer, an old Veteran of the South African war who went overseas immediately following the outbreak of war in August 1914. G. Tear of Echo Place went overseas with the third contingent.

BX January 16, 1917

Veterans Returning

In all probability three more returned soldiers will slip back into the city this evening. They are Private Glen Douglas Millard, 297 Nelson Street, Gunner Fred Thomas Palmer, 16 Northumberland Street, and C.Q.M.S. George Tear, of Echo Place. Word was received from the Military Hospitals Commission in Toronto today that the returned heroes would likely leave tonight on the 6 o’clock G.T.R. train.

BX July 6, 1915

Escapes While Serving Shell to Canadians – Driver F. Palmer Brantford Boy, Tells of Finding of a Canadian Crucified by Germans to a Barn With Bayonets – Served Shell at the Battle of Langemarck

Conversing with men of the 48th Highlanders Toronto, at Ypres, Driver Fred Thomas Palmer, of the Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column, a Brantford boy, learned that they had found a Canadian crucified to a barn door by the Germans. This he tells of in a letter to Chief of Police C. Slemin, received by him this morning.

The letter also tells of narrow escapes the writer had from German shells while delivering ammunition to the Canadian division at the Battle of Langemarck, where the Canadians covered themselves with glory. The letter follows:

June 19, 1915

Chief Slemin.

Dear Sir,

Many thanks for your kind letter I received today. I was very pleased to hear from you and to know you were well, as I am first rate at present.

I am indeed sorry that you have no word of P.C. Blanchard, but let’s hope he is no more than a prisoner of war. If he is, what an awful tale he will have to tell of his treatment. I am pleased to hear Cobden is doing so well.

Speaking about P.C. Cara, by mere chance this morning I met him and several of the Brantford boys, whom I have not seen since Valcartier camp. They came out of trenches the same day as we came down from the firing line.

While Cara has been supplying food etc., I have been supplying them ammunition in this present battle, and part of my section are still up supplying the guns. By the way, I was at the Battle of Langemarck and we supplied all the ammunition to the Canadian division up there, and believe me we had some narrow escapes. We had no less than 131 German shells come over us in a couple of hours, but we all escaped, but the damage done was fierce. I don’t know how many casualties there were, but none of our men were hit.

One morning while going along the road for ammunition a Jack Johnson shell hit the ground about 30 yards from us, throwing the dirt and splinters of the shell from the explosions all over us, and didn’t we beat it well, as fast as our horses could carry us. The shells seemed to follow us, but after an exciting gallop we got to a place of safety. That was all due to the German aircraft scouts. That was the closest thing I have had so far and believe me, too close to be comfortable.

The infantry certainly suffered. I met some of the 48th Highlanders at Ypres and they told me of how one of their men was crucified to a barn door with bayonets by the Germans, and since then I have seen it confirmed in the newspapers as being two men instead of one. The Germans are nothing but a bunch of murderers, especially now they use gas. I have seen some who have been “gassed” and they look awful, but we are now supplied with respirators, so it does not affect us so much. Another thing, there have been a great many Germans captured in Kilts taken from our dead and prisoners.

I guess I have told you all for the present and I will certainly remember you to the Brantford boys. I might just say I saw Capt. Jones, now adjutant of the 4th Battalion looking well. Lieuts., Wilkes, Thompson and Watson, of the 25th Dragoons, I have not seen, for Wilkes is with the Royal Canadian Dragoons as infantry; Lieut. Thompson, divisional cavalry, and Lieut. Watson was paymaster to the 6th Battalion. I saw Lieut. Dick Thompson once in France. So good-bye for the present – accept my best wishes and remember me kindly to all the members of the force.

Yours Sincerely,
Driver F. Palmer

BX April 22, 1931

Frederick Palmer

The death occurred last night of Frederick Palmer, in his 51st year. The funeral will be conducted from the late residence, 131 Greenwich Street, Thursday, with interment in Mount Hope cemetery. The late Mr. Palmer is survived by his widow, two sons and two daughters, Mrs. Fred Reed, Frederick Palmer, junior, city and Arthur and Margaret at home, also one brother William, formerly of Brantford. Deceased was a veteran of the South African War and was a member of the Springboks organization here.

BX April 25, 1931

The funeral of the late Frederick Palmer was conducted yesterday afternoon from his residence, 121 Greenwich Street, with interment in Mount Hope cemetery, Rev. W.A. Filer officiated at the services at the home and graveside and the pallbearers were George Blathwayte, Fred Wild, Gordon Braund, Alfred West, Charles Lang and Jack Storer, all of whom are members of the Springboks organization with which deceased was also connected.