Palmer DSM, Harold Gifford

Date of Birth	1916-05-21
Gender	Male
Birth Place	Australia, NSW, Sydney

Service Details

Service	RANR - Royal Australian Navy Reserve
Date of Entry	1939-08-25
Rank	Petty Officer
Rate	Gunner
Official Number	S2381
Discharged Date	1946-10-11
Discharge Type	Demobed - Discharged at end of War Service
Service Period	1939-1946
Active Service (War service)	WW2
Service Record	Yes
Ship	Refer Service Record see Sources

Cemetery Details

Cemetery Name	Tweed Heads Lawn Cemetery Kirkwood Rd Tweed Heads South NSW 2486
Cemetery Address	Tweed Heads South, NSW
Grave Type	Burial - Lawn

Notes

Defensively Armed Merchant Ship (DEMS) Gunner. Previous RANR Service as appointed LS on mobilization. in Nov 1942 while taking part in the Operation Torch landings in North Africa PO Palmer was awarded the DSM, his citation concludes "In my opinion the survival of the Dempo was largely due to his efforts" A 2nd DEMS DSM was awarded for Operation Torch to LS Colin Bake of WA of the SS Awatea although sunk Colin's citation reads in part }For cool determined courage ....and good shooting as gunlayer of the 4inch gun" which result in the downing of 2 aircraft. Colin's died 2012 in WA and the location of his ashes are not know.

Sources

Service Record - Australian National Archives Nominal Roll - Department of Veterans Affairs

Contributors