Lot 5027

Description

Gayndah, Queensland, tribute medal in gold with small enamelled colour patch (9ct; tot wt 11.78g; 38x54mm), by A&C Ltd (Angus & Coote Ltd), ring top suspension, obverse features 25th Battalion enamelled colour patch on white enamelled disc all sitting on a map of mainland Australia, obverse inscribed, 'Pte F.Palmer/25th Batt/Enl./3.2.15/Ret./3.4.16/Pres By/GFW & M/L'gue/Gayndah/Q'. Very fine.

GFW & M L'gue (Gayndah Farewell Welcome & M (?) League).

475 Francis Palmer, labourer, age 23, born at Caboolture, Qld; Enl.04Feb1915 at Maryborough, Qld in 25 Bn; Emb.29Jun1915; to MEF at Gallipoli 04Sep1915; shrapnel wound to head 12Dec1915 resulting in compound fracture and to hospital; Invalided to Australia 03Mar1916; Disch.12Apr1916 Medically Unfit.

On Friday 26 December 1924 Francis Palmer was found in the yard of his home at Gayndah, very ill. The 32 year old died shortly after a doctor arrived. A post mortem was held which revealed the presence of poison in his system, believed to have been self administered. He left a widow and four children aged from 6 months to 6 years. Another tragic example of a soldier suffering from war service trauma.