Palmer, Emily
Emily%20Palmer.jpg

Dates:

War Service:

Location of Memorial:
Because of the War it was impossible to return Emily's body to Ireland. She was buried in Brockley Cemetery, Deptford, London on the 13th September 1940. She was remembered on the New Cross Memorial, but it has been lost since the Hospital was closed and demolished.

Details:
Emily Palmer from Direenderaugh, Blackwater Bridge, Kenmare Co Kerry, Ireland. Daughter of Patrick, ( Died 13th May 1950) National School principle Direenderaugh and Emily (O’Shea) Palmer. ( Died 6th April 1931 Predeceased her daughter).

Emily was killed in the first wave of the German Bombing Blitz of London 7th September 1940. The high explosive bomb hit the hospital where she was working at 10:40pm according to official records.

Emily had just finished her secondary schooling and was awaiting the results of her entrance exam to the Irish Civil Service she was 19.
She went to London for the summer on an adventure with some friends to work in the South Eastern Hospital in Deptford, where her sister Margaret (Sis) Palmer (O’Grady) was working as a nurse.

Three nurses, Arsillia Rossi (17), Eleanor John (28, from Tonypandy), Phyllis Murphy (31, from Cardiff) along with Emily and Albert George Dolphin,( a porter working in the hospital) were killed that night. Albert Dolphin received the George cross posthumously as he lost his life saving the life of another nurse who was trapped, a wall which he was attempting to hold back fell on him knocking him over on top of the trapped nurse and cushioning her from the impact.

Between the years of 1940 and 1941, the Hospital received 16 direct hits from high explosive bombs and 300 incendiary bombs.

Lest She be forgotten

The voice is now silent,
The heart now cold,
The smile and the welcome That met us of old,
We miss her and mourn her In sorrow unseen,
And dwell on the memory Of days that have been.

(Extract from Emily’s Mortuary Card)

Source:

Contributed By: Jim Hickey,
Emily was a sister of Jim’s Mother-in-law, Eleanor Palmer (Keane).

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