Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Palmer, a bricklayer, born in the October quarter of 1842 in Great Bowden, Leicestershire (son of Thomas Palmer, 1812-1881 and Esther Whymant (Whymont), 1814-1898) and his wife Mary Ann Palmer (nee White, married on the 13th December 1866 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough, Leicestershire), born 1847 in Market Harborough (daughter of William White). Geoffrey, a schoolboy, was born in the July quarter of 1881 in Great Bowden, his siblings were, Annie, a corset trade stay maker, born in the October quarter of 1867, Mary Lizzie, a corset trade stay maker, born on the 28th July 1869, Frank Thomas, a grocer’s assistant, born on the 5th January 1873, Frederick Charles, an errand boy, born in the April quarter of 1875 and Ernest William, born on the 3rd August 1878, the latter five siblings were all born in Market Harborough and Leonard, a schoolboy, born in the July quarter of 1879 in Great Bowden, in April 1891 the family home was at East Street, Great Bowden. In March 1901 Geoffrey was absent from the family home at Logan Street, Great Bowden, residing there was his father, an architect and surveyor, his mother and siblings, Annie, a corset trade needle worker, Mary, a corset trade needle worker and Frederick, a tailor’s porter. In April 1911 Geoffrey remained absent from the family home at 91, Logan Street, Great Bowden, residing there was his father, an architect and former builder, his mother and siblings, Annie, a corset trade needle worker, Mary, a corset trade forewoman and Frederick, a light porter. Geoffrey also had another sibling, William White Palmer, born in the January quarter of 1871 in Great Bowden and who died in August 1872, aged 17 months in 1878 in Great Bowden and was interred on the 3rd August in Market Harborough Cemetery.
Geoffrey had served for 12 years with the Corps of Royal Engineers and had seen service during the South African War as a Sapper, (4870), with the 43rd (Fortress) Company, being awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899 – 1902. He had also served on St. Helena. When his period of Army service concluded, he settled in Northern Rhodesia, from where he returned to England on the outbreak of war to enlist with his old Regiment.
Geoffrey enlisted/attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) on the 20th October 1914 in Chatham, and was allotted the regimental service number 57069. He gave his place of birth as Great Bowden, Market Harborough, Leicestershire and age as 33 years 4 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as bricklayer, having served a 4-year apprenticeship under Mr. G. Garlick of Market Harborough that expired in 1900. He gave his present address as Rhodesia.
He confirmed that he had previously served for 12 years with the Corps of Royal Engineers, and was discharged time expired.
His description on enlistment recorded his height as 5-feet 5½ inches, weight 124 lbs, chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches, he had grey eyes and his hair colour was black. He gave his religion as Wesleyan.
He was certified as fit for the Army Reserve. Date 20th September 1914. Place Chatham.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Charles, 91, Logan Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Chatham. 20/10/14.
Attested. Royal Engineers Depot, Chatham. Sapper. 20/10/14.
Posted. To 4th Provisional Company. Bricklayer. 20/10/14.
Transferred. To 87th Field Company and promoted II Corporal. 21/10/14.
Promoted. Corporal. 22/10/14.
Promoted. Sergeant. 23/10/14.
Discharged. 23/4/15.
Commissioned. Temporary 2nd Lieutenant, R.8. 24/4/15. London Gazette d/ 23/4/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 20/10/14 – 23/4/15. 186 days.
Total Service. 186 days.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
Geoffrey’s Army enlistment documents from his period as a commissioned officer were not researched, and as such all that is known of his military service after the 23rd April 1915, when he was commissioned into the Corps of Royal Engineers, and was posted as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 153rd Company, Royal Engineers, is that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 31st July 1915. He was awarded the 1914-15 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal. In the event of his death, Geoffrey had nominated his brother Ernest William as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 19 Nov-15 – BIENVILLERS. Section 1 and 3, also Officer Commanding Headquarters here in billets; Sections No’s 2 and 4 at dug-outs in FONQUEVILLERS; Mounted Section and Workshop details billeting in SOUASTRE. 2nd Lieutenant PALMER G. killed, No.63921 Sapper SULLIVAN J. returned from Hospital.
On Wednesday, November 24th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED. – Information has been received at Market Harborough to the effect that Second Lieut. GEOFFREY PALMER, of Logan-street, Market Harborough, has been killed in action.
News has also come to hand that Lieut. J. H. JERWOOD, Durham Light Infantry, son of the Rector of Little Bowden, has been wounded, and is in hospital.