PALMER, Herbert Henry

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             47th Battalion - West Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654201
RESIDENCE:                    Goderich – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            January 9, 1884
                                             Essington – Staffordshire – England
DATE OF DEATH:           November 1, 1918               34 years     9 months
CEMETERY:                     Aulnoy Communal Cemetery – Aulnoy –
                                             Nord – France
                                             A     2     11
WIFE:                                 Mrs. Abigail Palmer – Goderich - Ontario
Occupation:                        Labourer at Imperial Oil      Religion:     Church of England
Enlistment:                         Goderich – January 10, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 32 years

With the 161st Battalion onboard the S.S. Lapland departed Canada bound for Liverpool and arrived on 
November 11, 1916.
On February 23rd, he transfers to the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion and then at the end of the month transfers to the 47th Battalion. He foes overseas in early March and joined his unit on August 16, 1918.   
Private Palmer was killed in action while advancing with his section during military operations near Valenciennes. He was struck by enemy machine gun fire and was killed in action.
The weather was unsettled with poor observation and winds from the west.
During the day the enemy artillery was active as were their snipers.
The Battalion was in battle formation with “A” & “C” Companies being right and left assault with “B” & “D” Companies in support.
The Brigade artillery began at 5:15 am and immediately the enemy countered with their barrage and it was considerable with much gas being used. No resistance was encountered until Poirier Station was passed and it here the enemy, being well dug in met the Battalion in great numbers. The enemy defended and the ensuing fight was bloody and it was bitter and close.
At 6:50 am the last objective was reached and at 7:05 am “B” & “D” Companies leap frogged through “A” & “C” Companies who then became the support and there was much enemy resistance until the final objective was gained and consolidated in depth.
The Battalion found the enemy machine-gun fire and trench mortar fire was very heavy coming from Valenciennes especially on the companies holding the line of the railway and on the support companies.
During the days fighting 19 men were killed and 107 were wounded.