Charles Reginald Palmer

Charles Palmer attended Sydney Boys High School and Sydney University where he trained in medicine, graduating in 1906.

On 10th February 1908 he married Edith Clarke and in 1910 he set up practice in Woonona, N.S.W.

Charles enlisted at the age of 33.  He arranged for someone to look after his medical practice and embarked on RMS Mooltan on 15th May 1915.

Dr Palmer arrived in Egypt and served there until he went to France in April 1916.

On 15th August 1916 he was posted as Medical Officer to 28th Battalion.  On 30th October he was posted to 1st Australian General Hospital.  

Service on the Western Front as a Doctor was particularly hard as, unlike the troops who were at least rested regularly, the medical staff often did not get that rest and the battalion doctors were under fire while trying to save lives.

On 26th December 1916 Charless admitted to hospital suffering a complete loss of voice.  He was sent to England and a medical board deemed him unfit for front line service.  In 1917 he was sent home and discharged on 29th May 1917.

While still serving he was advised that the doctor looking after his practice had become ill and unable to continue.   This meant that Dr Palmer would lose his practice; he subsequently asked to be discharged due to serious financial distress.  This was approved and he returned to his miners lodge practice where he stayed for the rest of his life.

After Dr Palmer was widowed he married Jane Siddons on 21st September 1931.

Dr Palmer had a son who served in WW2 and two daughters who served as nurses.