British Army officer (1928–2017)
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.
Early life
Born 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
Having 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
Palmer 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