The soldier:
William Arnold Palmer enlisted into the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Winnipeg, Canada on the 12th March 1915.
His place of birth was noted as Snettisham, England. His enlistment papers show that he had one years previous military experience in the 2nd Gloucester Regiment (Volunteers). He was assigned Canadian Army No. 421040.
William made his way with comrades to mainland Europe in order to help protect the country of his birth. Here he served as a Lieutenant in the 43rd Battalion (Manitoba Regiment) of the Canadian Infantry.
He was killed in action, aged 30, on the 14th November, 1917.
William is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. His name also appears on the ‘Roll Of Honour’ of employees of the Bank of Montreal. He is listed on Snettisham’s ‘Roll of Honour’ and appears on both its memorials.
The man:
William Arnold Palmer was born on the 18th October 1887 in Snettisham, Norfolk. His parents were Frederick William Henry Palmer, the village’s clergyman and Caroline Villebois Palmer (nee Smith). He was baptised in St. Mary’s church, Snettisham on the 11th May 1890.
By 1891, William was living at the Hall Grammar School, Snettisham, where his father served as the Headmaster, educating the village’s children, until his retirement in 1912 (at least 21 years). His mother, sisters Frances (7) and Agnes Maud (6 months) and elder brother Henry Thwaites (6) are also residing here along with staff and a number of boarding students.
William is still living at the school, 10 years later (aged 13) in 1901.
By 1911, William, now 23, has left the family home/school and is residing at 13, Bloomfield Road, Gloucester as a single boarder. He is now working as a clerk at LLoyds Bank. This ties in with his prior military service in the Gloucester regiment (Volunteers) detailed above.
Sometime between 1911 and 1913, William immigrates to Canada. we know this because he becomes a bank clerk, following the same trade, at the Bank of Montreal in Winnipeg that year.
Sometime between 1911 and his enlistment on the 12th March 1915, William married Janet Elizabeth Palmer and they set up home together at 631 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg. There is no UK registration of their marriage so it is reasonable to conclude that they married in Canada.
Janet is listed on later army documentation as residing at 106, Noble Avenue, Elmwood, Winnipeg.
William’s mother Caroline passed away in Snettisham in 1917. His father Frederick passed away in 1931. All of his siblings survived the war, his brother Henry moving to Sussex and marrying. He died there at the age of 84.
The attached picture is of William Arnold Palmer in his army uniform.
