William Alexander Palmer

William Alexander Palmer


Apr 25, 1889	Born at London Ontario
Jun 18, 1915	Attested into the 8^th CMR at Lindsay Ontario Ø Number 113471 Ø Next of kin given as Mrs Johanna Palmer (mother) of 245 Lakeshore Boulevard, Cleveland Ohio, USA Ø Previous occupation given as Florist Ø No previous military experience given Ø Medical shows that he is slightly flat footed Ø Religion given as Methodist Ø Assigned to “B” Squadron
Oct 1, 1915	Pay Assignment made out to Miss Ilah McQueen, Gananaque Ontario
Oct 8, 1915	Embarked the RMS Missanabie at Montreal Quebec
Oct 19, 1915	Disembarked at Plymouth England
Nov 5, 1915	Shown as L/Cpl on Muster Parade at Bramshott Camp
Nov 30, 1915	Admitted to Bramshott Hospital with Syphilis
Dec 6, 1915	Transferred to Connaught Military Hospital, Bramshott with Syphilis Ø Placed on the Syphilis Register at Aldershot Ø Primary sore recorded as appearing on December 1, 1915
Jan 1, 1916	Pay Assignment cancelled
Jan 4, 1916	Discharged from hospital having completed the 1^st course of treatment and showing no active signs of VD
Jan 25, 1916	AWL (Absent Without Permission) from 12 midnight January 24 until Roll Call January 25. Ø Forfeits one day’s pay ($1.15)
Feb 3, 1916	Transferred to the 39^th Battalion at West Sandling Camp
Feb 9, 1916	Admitted to Cherry Hinton Military Hospital at Cambridge with Venereal Disease
May 4, 1916	Discharged to unit with next course of treatment due the end of July
Jun 6, 1916	Medical Board at West Sandling Camp records that he has received 4 shots for his VD and that he will be fit for duty after 4 weeks of Physical Training
Jul 24, 1916	On Command to 1^st CCD (Canadian Casualty Depot) for 4 weeks PT (Physical Training)
Jul 25, 1916	SOS (Struck Off Strength) on transfer to CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre), Folkstone
Aug 25, 1916	Reverts to Permanent Grade of Pte for “Breaking out of ranks and neglecting to obey an order”
Sep 6, 1916	Medical Board at Monks Horton notes his record of Syphilis. Declared him fit for duty with no symptoms evident
Sep 8, 1916	Ceases to be shown On Command to CCD
Sep 9, 1916	TOS (Taken On Strength) 39^th Battalion from CCAC for full duty
Oct 6, 1916	Medical Board at West Sandling Camp notes his flat feet and declares him fit for duty
Oct 27, 1916	SOS to the 21^st Battalion
Nov 3, 1916	Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in France and TOS the 21^st Battalion
Nov 18, 1916	Left for the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion
Nov 21, 1916	Arrived at 2^nd Entrenching Battalion
Dec 12, 1916	Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field
Feb 17, 1917 Died of wounds at No 42 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) Aubigny Communal Cemetery Aubigny en Artois France
	The medals card indicates that none of his medals, Death Plaque, Scroll or Memorial Cross were issued because next of kin could not be located.

2008

During the Remembrance Day ceremonies in 2008, Veteran's Affairs Canada conducted a vigil each night for the week leading up to November 11. This vigil consisted of projecting the names of every Canadian soldier who is listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on various buildings and monuments across Canada, and in London England. The photo below shows William Palmer's name being projected on the outside wall of Canada House in London England.

2010

For the 7 nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers were projected onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres. At the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across Belgium and Canada. The image above shows the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010.

Below on the left is the name of William Palmer being projected on that wall. Below right shows the name being broadcast to the schools. Each name appeared for 25 seconds and each night 9,700 names were shown.