George Hodgetts (Splinter) PALMER MM

PALMER, George Hodgetts

    Service Number: 395
    Enlisted: 11 January 1915, Ararat, Vic.
    Last Rank: Trooper
    Last Unit: 13th Light Horse Regiment
    Born: Joel Joel, Victoria, Australia, 1891
    Home Town: Joel Joel, Northern Grampians, Victoria
    Schooling: Not yet discovered
    Occupation: Farmer
    Died: 15 March 1975, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
    Cemetery: Cheltenham Memorial Park, Victoria, Australia
    Memorials:
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    World War 1 Service

    11 Jan 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 395, 13th Light Horse Regiment, Ararat, Vic.
    28 May 1915: Involvement Private, 395, 13th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: ''
    28 May 1915: Embarked Private, 395, 13th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Persic, Melbourne
    4 Sep 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 395, 13th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli
    11 May 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 4th Pioneer Battalion, Egypt
    6 Jul 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Trooper, Australian Army Service Corps, 1st Anzac Mounted Division, France
    1 Dec 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Trooper, 13th Light Horse Regiment, Re-designated
    30 Sep 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 395, 13th Light Horse Regiment, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal
    29 Oct 1918: Honoured Military Medal, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near NAUROY during the operations of 29th and 30th September 1918. Palmer was attached to Brigade Headquarters as a galloper between Brigade and Battalion Headquarters. On the night of the 29th/30th September whilst carrying despatches to one of the forward Battalions he got caught in a very heavy barrage and had his horse killed under him, he himself being heavily thrown and badly shaken. He continued on foot, delivered his despatches and reported back to Brigade headquarters. By this time telephonic communication had been cut and all other runners who were acquainted with the locality had become casualties. Hearing that an important operation order had to go out, Palmer volunteered to carry it, although still suffering from shock. On reaching a point West of BELLICOURT he was informed that the forward routes were closed to traffic owing to the intense enemy artillery fire; he left his horse, a fresh one which he had obtained, with the traffic post and fearlessly pushed forward on foot. He safely delivered his despatches after going through one of the heaviest barrages that has been experienced on this front. His work was a fine example of courage and devotion to duty.
    14 Mar 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Trooper, 395, 13th Light Horse Regiment, RTA 4 January 1919 and discharged as MU (illness).

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