PALMER, William

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Canadian Infantry Division
                                             1st Infantry Brigade
                                             1st Battalion  -  Western Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   6950
RESIDENCE:                     Goderich - Ontario
DATE OF BIRTH:            May 28, 1893
                                             Marlette – Michigan – U.S.A.
DATE OF DEATH:           April 23, 1915              21 years
CEMETERY:                     White House Cemetery – Ypres –
                                             West Vlaanderen – Belgium
                                             III     M     21
PARENTS:                         Mr. & Mrs William Palmer - Goderich / Hamilton - Ontario
Occupation:                        Sailor                                    Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         September 22, 1914 – Valcartier into 1st Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 21 years     3 months

He left Montreal bound for England on the S.S. Laurentic on October 4, 1914.
Lance Corporal Palmer was at the Yser Canal north of Ypres when he was killed in action. His body was recovered from the west bank of Riviere L’Yperlie, about 75 yards south south west of Bridge 4, over the Yser Canal close behind the buildings of “Essex Farm.”
On April 23rd, at 2:20 am orders were received for the Battalion to advance to Brielen by going over the Yser Canal and to use Bridge 4. At 7 am orders were received to advance on the village of Pilcken. Their left was to be the Ypres-Pilcken Road and supporting the French on their left. The 4th Brigade was on the right. 
The first objective was an enemy occupied ridge 1,000 yards south of the village and when the attack went in they were under heavy artillery, machine gun and rifle fire from the enemy. The only artillery support for the Brigade was one Battery in the rear.
At 9:30 am about half way to first objective they were ordered to halt and entrench.
At 3:45 pm the French on the left advanced to attack and the Battalion and the 1st Brigade passed minus the 1st Battalion passed through.
In support of this the 1st Battalion in reserve and during the morning had thrown up a strong line of trenches facing Pilcken ridge on the high ground on the track leading from the Canal Bridge #4.
During the attack in the afternoon the advance reached within 250 yards of the enemy held ridge and because of no artillery support and thinned out lines they were not able to achieve their objective.
At 11: 30 pm the 1st Battalion was ordered to occupy the lines of trenches constructed in the morning. They held this position until 7 pm on April 24th and all the while were under a heavy and severe artillery barrage.
It was during this advance and holding of the lines when Lance Corporal Palmer was killed in action.