Current Information:

Born-Kensington

Enlisted-Cowshott Camp, Hampshire

On 3rd December, 1914, the 4th Middlesex battalion of 8 Brigade, 3rd Division, moved into the front line to the east of Kemmel in Belgium where they remained until relieved on 6th December. The battalion diary entry for 5th December simply reads, “Nothing of interest happened”, not a sentiment that would have been shared by James Palmer who was killed on that day, The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.