Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick John Palmer, a boot trade riveter, born 1865 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and his wife Sophia Palmer (nee Haswell, married in the 3rd quarter of 1884 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district), born 1863 in Burbage, Leicestershire. Bertie was born in the 1st quarter of 1891 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Annie, a schoolgirl, born 1885, Frederick John, born 1887 and Sydney Edward, born 1889, all his siblings were born in Hinckley, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Manor Street, Hinckley, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Bertie was residing in the family home at 121, Queens Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire together with his father, a shoe trade riveter, his mother and siblings, Annie, a hosiery trade mender, Frederick, an errand boy, Sydney, Horace George, born 1895, Nellie, born 1898 and Leslie Ernest, born 1900, the latter three siblings were all born in Hinckley, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Bertie was absent from the family home at The Borough, Hinckley, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a boot repairer, his mother and siblings, Sydney, a cotton trade weaver, Horace, a hosiery trade warehouseman, Nellie a shirt trade worker, Leslie, a schoolboy and Wilfrid, born 1908 in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Bertie attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 4th October 1911 in Northampton. He gave his place of birth as Holy Trinity, Hinckley, Leicestershire and his age as 20 years and 9 months. He gave his trade or calling as boot factory repairer. He gave his father Frederick John Palmer and mother, Sophia Palmer of 4, Clarendon Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire, his elder brother Frederick John Palmer of Ilkeston, Derbyshire and his elder sister, Annie Palmer of Mill Hill Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10 inches in height, weighed 131 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34½ inches. His hair colour was black and he had grey eyes. It was noted that he had operation scars in both groins. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the 3rd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment (Special Reserve) as a Private, service number 9296 on the 4/10/11 – 3/2/12. Attended recruits musketry and annual training on the 1/6/12 – 30/6/12. Passed his 3rd Class Certificate of Army Education on the 3/10/12. Discharged from the Special Reserve on the 1/12/12. Joined the Regular Army (Royal Berkshire Regiment) on the 2/12/12. Total Special Reserve service 1 year 59 days. Bertie attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years with the Reserve on the 2nd December 1912 in Reading Berkshire. He gave his place of birth as Hinckley, Leicestershire and his age as 20 years and 10 months. He gave his trade or calling as boot maker. He confirmed that he had previously served as a Special Reservist with the 3rd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10¼ inches in height, weighed 131 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had grey eyes. It was noted that he had operation scars in both groins and he had a Buffalo Bill tattoo on his right arm. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army Service.
His record of service began when he joined the 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment at Dover, Kent as a Private, service number 9887 on the 7/12/12. Qualified in swimming on the 12/8/13. Appointed Lance Corporal on the 25/8/13. Deserted on the 14/3/14. Absent on the 14/3/14 – 6/4/14. Guard Detention Room awaiting trial on the 7/4/14. Tried by D.C.M. on the 19/4/14 – 20/4/14 and sentenced to 42 days detention for (I) Absent from 7:00am 14.3.14 until 6.4.14. (II) Conduct prejudice of good order and military discipline i.e., attempted to enlist fraudulently. Found guilty of both charges. To Detention Barracks at 2:00pm on the 22/4/14. Reverts to Private under Sec. 183 Army Act. 6 days Detention remitted under Para 116 Rules for Military Discipline Barracks and Military Prisons. Returned to duty with the 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment from the Detention Barracks on the 26/5/14. Suffering from cataracts he was discharged as no longer physically fit for War Service under Para 392 (XVI) K.R. on the 21/8/14. His total service was: Home Service 2/12/12 – 21/8/14, 1 year 263 days. His Military Character was described as Good. The Character description being that he was considered to be: Sober, honest and trustworthy, intelligent and a good worker. Has been in the Regular Army 21 months, during which period he held non commissioned rank for 6 months. Previous to this he was 1 year in the Special Reserve. For 6 years employed in a Boot Factory. 3rd Class Certificate Education. A generally good man. Some time after his discharge, Bertie re-enlisted into the Royal Berkshire Regiment, being posted to the 8th Battalion. His service record for that enlistment did not survive.
The War Diary records: 12 Oct-15 – GERMAN OLD FRONT LINE. 11:30pm. The Battalion assumed its battle position at 11:30pm on the night of the 12th/13th instant, with The Black Watch Regiment on its left and the London Scottish on its right flank. The Battalion occupied a frontage of two hundred yards, with two companies in the front line and two companies in support, its objective being the GERMAN trench on the EAST side of the main road not more than two hundred yards from our own trench.
13 Oct-15 - GERMAN OLD FRONT LINE. 1:00pm. Precisely at 1:00pm the chlorine gas discharge began and was continued at intervals until 1:50pm. During this time smoke bombs were thrown out by our men from the front line trench. The wind seemed very favourable and carried the gas and smoke towards the enemy’s trench. 1:02pm. The gas discharge ceased, the artillery lifted and the Battalion wire cutters accompanied by men carrying smoke bombs went forward under cover of the smoke. During the whole time of the smoke discharge hostile machine-gun fire from our right flank could be heard. The remainder of the two companies in the front line went over. From reports I have since received it appears that only about six of these men reached the Estaminet across the road, owing to the heavy machine-gun fire from the right flank which seemed to come from the direction of the CHALK PITS. These men remained at the Estaminet until dark and then crawled back. 2:10pm. At 2:10pm a report reached me that our first line had attained the road but were being enfiladed, I then ordered two platoons of the supporting companies to go over. As these men crossed our own first line, the Machine Gun Officer, with his team, joined them. This Officer reports that by this time the smoke was beginning to thin and that his team only got about 75 yards beyond our parapet when they came under machine-gun fire and were cut down. From inquiries I have made from N.C.O.’s it appears that about fifteen men of this line reached the road but did not cross it. They report that there was rifle fire from the German trench. Hand grenades were thrown at them from the enemy’s trench, but these fell short by about ten yards. 2:20pm. The remainder of the Battalion went over, but were no more successful than the others in reaching their objective. During the night those men who had escaped crawled back to our front line trench. I attribute the failure of the attack to the inability of our artillery to silence the German machine-guns, and to the complete absence of support. 2nd Lieuts. L. A. KLEMANTASKI; G. B. COOTE; R. S. P. POYNT; W. L. CLARKE; F. M. SUMPSTER; and F. GARDENNER joined from the 9th Royal Berkshire Regiment.
14 Oct-15 – GERMAN OLD FRONT LINE. 2:00am. The remnant of the Battalion moved into support trench behind the Black Watch Regiment.