Captain, Punjab Regiment
Born: June 5th 1919
Died: July 23rd 1942
Age at Death: 23
Killed in action, July 23rd 1942
1st 15 1936-1937
Swimming 8 1936
Athletics 8 1936
Boxing 8 1937
William, known as Tony to his friends, was born in Paris on 5 June 1919 to Morris Palmer, assistant manager of the Paris branch of Westminster Bank, and his wife Lilah (née Bishop). At the College he was in the top swimming and boxing teams, with a strong fight record at House level. Moving on to Sandhurst to train as an officer, he earned a Level 1 Translator’s Certificate in French.
On 30 December 1941 he received a Military Cross for organising a successful counter-attack against superior numbers by the company he was commanding, while serving with the 14th Punjab Regiment of the Indian Army. The citation lauded Palmer, at this point a lieutenant, for ‘showing the highest qualities of leadership, coolness in action, and determination’. Palmer was killed in the First Battle of El Alamein, in July 1942, and is buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery.