Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The rare and well-documented Great War ‘Balloonatics’s’ D.F.M. group of five awarded to 1st Class Air Mechanic, later Squadron Leader, C. H. ‘Curly’ Palmer, No. 1. Balloon Company, No. 8 Kite Balloon Section, Royal Air Force, for his gallantry during an epic 4 and half hour flight at Ecurie, 19 July 1918. During the latter he, and his commanding officer and fellow observer Flight Lieutenant Bell, were engaged by “DB1” - a long-range naval gun which ran on rails from a concrete hide-out some 15 miles behind the Front. Despite the balloon being punctured in nine places by shellfire, Palmer and Bright carried on observing and gave observations for their Battery to engage the hostile gun and finally neutralise it. Palmer had been ordered to jump by Bell, but decided to stay with his officer, whose own parachute had been destroyed by shellfire, and was suffering from shell-shock. During the Second World War Palmer was employed as an ARP Warden during the Bristol Blitz, before going on to command 2152 (North Bristol) Squadron, Air Training Corps

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.V.R. (21530 A.M.1. Palmer, C. H., R.A.F.) suspension slack; British War and Victory Medals (21530. 1.A.M. C. H. Palmer. R.A.F.); Defence Medal; Cadet Forces Medal, G.VI.R. (Act. Sqn. Ldr. C. H. Palmer. R.A.F.V.R.(T)) generally very fine (5) £4,000-£5,000

D.F.M. London Gazette 21 September 1918, the original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the 19th July, 1918, at Ecurie, this airman ascended at 2.25pm in the Balloon on observation work. At 3.25pm, this Balloon, while in Flight, was subjected to hostile shelling continuing at intervals until 6.05pm. Twelve rounds (air bursts) were fired in all and, in spite of the fact that several of the rounds burst very close to the Balloon, puncturing same in nine places, this airman carried out his observing and gave observations for the Battery, engaging the hostile gun for neutralisation.

A.M. 1. Palmer has, on five previous occasions, been shelled while on observation work in the Balloon, and has invariably carried on his observing.’

Cecil Herbert Palmer was the son of Mr and Mrs H. H. Palmer of 18 Brighton Road, Weston-super-Mare. He was educated at the Central Council Schools, and won a County Council Scholarship to attend Sexey’s School, Blackford. Palmer successfully sat for a clerkship in the Postal branch of the Civil Service, and was also a member of the local R.A.M.C. unit.

The following article written by Palmer, that appeared in Sports Quarterly, The Magazine of the Civil Service Sports Council, September 1971, gives the following detailed account of his Great War service:

‘I was mobilised on the 4th August, 1914, with my Territorial unit which formed part of the first 18 months of the war on the East Coast. The Brigade was then ordered to Gallipoli, but to my chagrin I found that I was to be left behind with the Reserve Unit at Colchester, it having been discovered that I was under age for service overseas.

In the Reserve Unit I was employed on clerical duties, in the course of which I saw a memorandum asking for volunteers to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps as Clerk (General Duties) or Despatch Rider. This offered me the prospect of a more adventurous life and prompted me to apply. I was as promptly accepted and soon found myself transferred to the RFC depot at Farnborough.

Life here was very hectic because of the rapid expansion of the Corps. Fresh batches of transferees, also of recruits straight from civilian life, were arriving daily to undergo the Initial Training Course - commonly known as “square bashing”, The Drill Instructors and senior NCOs were all transferees from the Brigade of Guards, so it may be well imagined that on parade the discipline was pretty rigid....

With our course completed we were posted to Perham Down on Salisbury Plain so as to make room for further batches of raw recruits at Farnborough.... The time was by now February 1916 and very wet and cold. My main recollection of this camp is of a collection of Nissen huts in a sea of liquid mud criss-crossed by numerous lines of duck-boards to permit passage from one part to another without becoming submerged in the mud. Luckily our stay there lasted only a month, and then we were back at Farnborough pending drafting to France.

We landed at Le Havre on 19th April, 1916, and stayed overnight in the rest camp near the docks prior to moving up to Bethune. There we were due to replace the RNAS at No. 1 Wing Headquarters. Our party consisted of one Corporal (a Despatch Rider), two 19 year old Clerks (GD), namely Duggie Garrett and myself, and about 36 others.

The Corporal, no doubt due to his previous Service experience and age, was placed in charge of the Administration offices; but Duggie and I considered this a diabolical invasion of our rightful preserves and, with youthful impetuosity, were not slow to voice our displeasure. In consequence, within a month or five weeks we found ourselves posted, without any warning, to No. 8 Balloon Section and our trade transferred to Kite Balloon Telephonist.

The duties of the these Tradesmen consisted of manning the Section Exchange on a two-hourly rota. We were also responsible for manning the Section Exchange, situated in a deep dug-out in the support trenches. This exchange linked up Balloon and Field Batteries, whereas the Section exchange had lines to Artillery Group HQ, Wing HQ and other Balloon Sections. The Forward exchange was manned by two KB Telephonists for 8-10 days at a time repairing any lines rendered unserviceable through enemy action. During this period we ate, slept and lived underground, except for our “constitutional” above ground to visit the converted soap-box with the hole carved out which acted as our “loo”.

The times I enjoyed most, however, were our periods of duty in the Operations Room. There we did duty during balloon ascents acting as liaison between Balloon and Batteries and passing on messages and observations. There was a large library of aerial photographs which clearly showed damage to enemy positions after attack by our guns or aeroplanes. My assistance in these duties was evidently thought worthy of encouragement by the Balloon Observers, for one of them offered to give me a trip in the Balloon to see how things worked aloft. I was excited at the prospect and gladly accepted.

The Spencer Observation Balloon was about 60 ft. long and some 15-20 ft. high. It required a crew of 30-36 men to handle it from its “bed” to the Winching Position situated usually 80 to 100 yds. away. There were two stabilising fins, one on each side of the balloon, and a rudder, all three being filled with air; the balloon itself, however, was filled with Hydrogen gas - very inflammable stuff!

The balloons were attached to a drum of heavyweight cable which was let out slowly by the winch to the extent of 1,500 to 2,000 ft.... Some 20 ft. below the balloon was slung the observation basket, about 5 ft. by 3 ft., attached to the balloon rigging. The basket comfortably housed two observers, their equipment and sandbags, the latter being used as ballast and jettisoned when more height was required. A pair of telephone wires attached to the cable passed through a transformer in the basket, and both observers could carry out separate conversations over the one pair of wires without interference.

My first balloon trip did not come off until April 1917. In those days ballooning was much a fine weather venture and even on fine days the visibility had to be good before it was worthwhile to make an ascent. My trip, however, was a big disappointment, the whole countryside being covered in a thick haze. No visibility so no prospective action, and we were down again in 15 minutes - but I was promised a further opportunity when conditions were more favourable, and this took place on 22nd July.

This time the day was hot and gloriously clear. I was naturally very excited, also acutely aware that the enemy front line trenches were not much more than five miles away. The flight was made from our camp at Verdrel Wood on the Vimy Ridge front, and as the winch paid out cable the countryside gradually appeared until at 1,500 ft. we could see all around us for more than 20 miles.... Our binoculars easily picked out roads, villages and special landmarks, while the movement of troops - invisible to the naked eye - could be identified by the cloud of dust in the wake of columns of transport. Enemy gunfire was easily spotted and gun flashes were co-ordinated and reported to arrange for counter battery fire....

To return to my second flight - activity on both sides of the Line soon hotted up and my officer observer was busy observing the results of fire on two enemy targets at once. More requests for balloon spotting help came in and he asked me if I thought I could manage a “shoot” on my own. I replied that I was sure I could, and thus started my first attempt at aerial observing for our artillery - a Canadian Heavy Battery. About a dozen rounds were fired on an enemy strong-point and I found no difficulty in dropping into the accepted methods.... from that time onwards I was employed quite frequently on balloon observation duty.

Balloon officers returned to the UK for rest after six months’ duty and often did not return to the same unit, having been posted elsewhere. In consequence, after about nine months I was the longest serving observer and it often fell to my lot to go up in the balloon with a newly-joined officer to show him the surrounding countryside and explain how we worked. I was still as 1st Class Air Mechanic graded as KB Telephonist.

During this period my ascents often drew the attention of “DB1”, the enemy long-range naval gun which ran on rails from a concrete hide-out some 15 miles behind the Front. I gained a reputation among the balloon crew of being the jinx who attracted fire, and they were always a little apprehensive when they saw I was about to ascend, although so far DB1 had not been successful in the attempt to bring us down in flames.

As for aeroplanes the Luftwaffe never attacked me, though for some months we faced von Richthofen’s “Red Devils” Circus so called because their fuselages were painted red.... They frequently brought balloons of our Section down in flames and fired bursts at the ground crews.....

Many were the eventful occasions of which I could give details, but I will conclude with an account of an epic flight which lasted 4 and half hours, and occurred on 19th July 1918. I accompanied my CO, Flt. Lieut. Bell, and with good visibility we settled down to directing fire at German targets, doing two shoots each. We must have given them a pain in the neck, for our old enemy DB1 soon attacked us and with more accuracy than usual. Despite evasive action we found the first six shells uncomfortably close.

With counter battery fire we managed to send him scuttling back into his hide-out and, for about an hour, we continued with our batteries firing on enemy points - when back comes DB1 with another half dozen shells, this time so accurate that he holed the balloon in nine places, also damaging the CO’s parachute and parts of the rigging. We could not haul down without the distinct possibility of “air burst” being changed to “ground burst” which would have caused heavy casualties among the balloon crew.

The CO told me to jump, but as his parachute was useless and he seemed to be suffering from shell shock I decided to stick it out with him. By counter battery fire we drove DB1 to ground and quickly made our descent without further mishap. Glad indeed were we to get our feet on firm ground once more. For this mission Flt. Lieut. Bell was awarded the DFC, and I was awarded the DFM.

All aircrew are made up to Sergeant on completion of their aircrew training, so I am probably the first airman to take his initial ascent within easy reach of enemy lines. Furthermore, all this happened because the trade description of Duggie Garrett, my colleague throughout my service overseas, and myself was never changed, so that I am one of the only two air mechanics to be given Observer’s Brevet. Although at the time I felt rather peeved at not getting promotion I can now look back philosophically and feel proud to be the only air mechanic ever to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, other recipients being Sergeants or above.’

Palmer rejoined the Civil Service in Bristol after the war, and became the Honorary Secretary of the Bristol Civil Service Sports Club. With the advent of the Second War, he had ‘a spell in the Air Raid Warden’s Service... finding myself amongst 12 or 15 ex service campaigners and neighbours of mine. As Post Warden I was responsible for a large area around my house and had two years’ experience of a varied type during the first years of the war which included the Bristol Blitz.

I was in 1941 persuaded, after much talk by an old friend of mine, to apply for a commission in The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Training Branch for service with the Air Training Corps. Here I at last found my right place and continued until 1959 when I was retired by the Air Ministry at the age of 62 [commanded 2152 (North Bristol) ATC Squadron, and received a Letter of Appreciation for Good Service.].’ (Article included in lot refers).

In later life Palmer resided in Filton Grove, Horfield, Bristol. He died in June 1978.

Sold with the following related original documentation: Pocket Diary for 1918, with daily entries by the recipient chronicling his ascents etc; several aerial photographs showing damage to enemy positions after attack by guns or aeroplanes; newspaper cuttings, several articles published by recipient, photographic images and other ephemera. Sold with comprehensive copied research.