Archibald Palmer was born in Ballarat and was a Grocer by trade when he enlisted in the 8th Battalion, B Company on 28 August 1914 at the age of 19. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A24 Benalla on 19 October 1914. Aside from a brief period of illness that hospitalised him at Lemnos, he came through the Gallipoli campaign without significant injury. In May 1916 he disembarked in France and again avoided physical battle wounds, although ill health was becoming a common occurrence for him. It was determined that he should return home, so on May 12th 1918 he sailed from England on the Gaika and on his return to Australia, was discharged as æmedically unfit – myalgia, debility'.
Tree No. 224