Victoria Cross. Lance Corporal 42364, 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Died 29/09/1918. Age 25.

 

Son of Mrs. Sarah Seaman nee March. Born at Heigham, Norwich, Ernest was resident in Felixstowe in 1911 working as a billiard marker at the Grand Hotel, he was using his step-father's surname Palmer at this time.

 

Ernest was initially rejected as unfit for service but eventually enlisted in the Army Service Corps (EFC/A/367703), joining the Expeditionary Force Canteens as a baker just in time to receive the 1914-1915 Star.  He managed to transfer to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers about a year later where he proved himself to be an excellent soldier. Ernest saw action across Ypres & Passchendaele and it was at Terhand shortly after his actions that earned him the VC he was killed. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

 

An extract from "The London Gazette," No.31012, dated 15th Nov., 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. When the right flank of his company was held up by a nest of enemy machine guns, he, with great courage and initiative, rushed forward under heavy fire with his Lewis gun and engaged the position single-handed, capturing two machine guns and twelve prisoners and killing one officer and two men. Later in the day he again rushed another enemy machine-gun position, capturing the gun under heavy fire. He was killed immediately after. His courage and dash were beyond all praise, and it was entirely due to the very gallant conduct of Lce. Cpl. Seaman that his company was enabled to push forward to its objective and capture many prisoners."