The death of a member of the Palfreyman family was a blow to the Tasmanian community in World War I
THE death of a Tasmanian pilot serving in the Royal Air Force came as a shock to family and friends at home in May 1918.
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THE death of a Tasmanian pilot serving in the Royal Air Force came as a shock to family and friends at home in May 1918.
But the fact that Captain A.E. Palfreyman was a member of the well-known Hobart retailing family meant the grief was shared by a much wider group.
Audubon Eric Palfyreman was an unmarried 23-year-old accountant when he enlisted in Melbourne in May 1916.
He was one of the 17 children of the Reverend and Mrs Isaac Palfreyman. Known as “Audie”, he and five brothers all had names starting with the same letter of the alphabet.
DAY 12: LIEUTENANT HERBERT HARE
The Mercury reported in April 1916 that the staff of Palfreyman’s Corner had given Audie a fountain pen and pocket-wallet as he set off for training in the aviation corps. He thanked them for the gift and for their loyalty to the business.
He initially saw service as a driver with the 3rd Divisional Supply Column but was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force when he was appointed as a second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps in March 1917.
His certificate of discharge stated that the Hobart-born soldier’s conduct and character while serving in the AIF had been very good during his 304 days of service.
In April 1918 the Hobart newspapers were proudly reporting that Audie had been promoted to captain.
A month later they were reporting that he had been killed in action near Bruges in Belgium.
In a letter to the Reverend Palfreyman in Hobart, Major Douglas Hill of the RAF said Audie had been leading an aircraft formation on May 23 when it was attacked by several German planes.
“Your son’s machine was seen to have been hit, but, of course, we all hoped for the best, and quite thought he might be a prisoner. Alas! I am afraid that there is now no doubt he has gone,” Major Hill wrote.
“I offer you, from us all, most sincere sympathy in your loss. All of us, without exception, knew your son to be the best, bravest, and most reliable fellow in the squadron. His record here has never been, and never will be equalled, and just before he was brought down he was being awarded a decoration.
“Personally I am heartbroken he has gone, for, besides being my best officer, he was my friend and help — just everything, and I know that for certain that no finer, truer fellow ever stepped. I am so proud to have known him and to have had him in my squadron, and I know how proud you must feel in your great sorrow to have possessed such a gallant and fine son. With all my sympathy to you and Mrs Palfreyman in your great loss.”
Aged 26 at the time of his death, Captain Audubon Eric Palfreyman is buried Ruddervoorde Communal Cemetery near Bruges, Belgium. He is also remembered at tree number 494 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue in Hobart and on the honour board at the Hobart Town Hall.
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