Major-General Sir Joseph Michael Palmer, KCVO (17 October 1928 – 21 February 2017) was a senior British Army officer. He was Defence Services Secretary from 1982 to 1985.
Sir Michael Palmer | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Joseph Michael Palmer |
| Born | 17 October 1928 |
| Died | 21 February 2017 (aged 88) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1948–1985 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Service number | 400011 |
| Commands | 14th/20th King's Hussars Royal Armoured Corps |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
Early life
editBorn on 17 October 1928, Palmer was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel William Robert Palmer, DSO and his wife Joan Audrey Palmer (née Smith). He was educated at Sandroyd School in Wiltshire, where he was head boy in 1937.[1] After Sandroyd, Palmer attended Wellington College at Crowthorne in Berkshire.[2]
Military career
editHaving attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Palmer was commissioned into the 14th/20th King's Hussars as a second lieutenant on 22 December 1948, with seniority from that date. He was given the service number 400011.[3] Promoted to lieutenant on 22 December 1950,[4] he was Adjutant of 14th/20th King's Hussars from 1953 to 1955, and was given the acting rank of captain on appointment.[2] Promoted to captain on 22 December 1954,[5] he served as Adjutant of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry from 1956 to 1959.[2]
He attended Staff College, Camberley in 1960[2] and, having been promoted to major on 22 December 1961,[6] he attended the Joint Services Staff College in 1965.[2] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1969[7] and between 1969 and 1972 he was commanding officer of the 14th/20th King's Hussars.[2] He was promoted colonel on 30 June 1973.[8] He went on to be Commander Royal Armoured Corps at Headquarters 1st (British) Corps in 1974 and, having been promoted to brigadier on 31 December 1974,[9] he became Assistant Chief of Staff at Allied Forces Central Europe in 1976.[2] He became Director Royal Armoured Corps on 8 December 1978[10] and was promoted to major-general on 19 February 1980.[11] He was Defence Services Secretary from 1982[12] to 1985, when he retired.[13] On 21 March 1985, Palmer was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).[14]
Palmer was appointed Honorary Colonel of his old regiment, the 14th/20th King's Hussars on 15 February 1981.[15]
Personal life
editPalmer and his wife Jilly have three children, Jeremy, Jonathan and Deborah. Palmer is the father-in-law of artist and journalist, Angela Palmer.[2]
He died on 21 February 2017 at the age of 88.[16]
References
edit- ^ "The Sandroydian" (War Edition). August 1942.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h "PALMER, Maj.-Gen. Sir (Joseph) Michael". Who's Who 2012. A & C Black. December 2011.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "No. 38535". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 February 1949. p. 746.
- ^ "No. 39096". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 December 1950. p. 6379.
- ^ "No. 40354". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 December 1954. p. 7209.
- ^ "No. 42545". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 December 1961. p. 9290.
- ^ "No. 44885". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1969. p. 6783.
- ^ "No. 46046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1973. pp. 9388–9389.
- ^ "No. 46469". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 January 1975. p. 863.
- ^ "No. 47738". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1979. p. 330.
- ^ "No. 48229". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 June 1980. p. 8995.
- ^ "No. 48879". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 February 1982. p. 1402.
- ^ "No. 50128". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 May 1985. p. 7058.
- ^ "No. 50061". The London Gazette. 26 March 1985. p. 3482.
- ^ "No. 48540". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 March 1981. p. 3074.
- ^ "Palmer". Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.