Michael Palmer (British Army officer)

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	(1928-10-17)17 October 1928
Died	21 February 2017(2017-02-21) (aged 88)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1948–1985
Rank	Major-General
Service number	400011
Commands held	14th/20th King's Hussars Royal Armoured Corps
Awards	Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

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

1. "The Sandroydian" (War Edition). August 1942. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
2. "PALMER, Maj.-Gen. Sir (Joseph) Michael". Who's Who 2012. A & C Black. December 2011. Missing or empty |url= (help)
3. "No. 38535". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 February 1949. p. 746.
4. "No. 39096". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 December 1950. p. 6379.
5. "No. 40354". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 December 1954. p. 7209.
6. "No. 42545". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 December 1961. p. 9290.
7. "No. 44885". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1969. p. 6783.
8. "No. 46046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1973. pp. 9388–9389.
9. "No. 46469". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 January 1975. p. 863.
10. "No. 47738". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1979. p. 330.
11. "No. 48229". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 June 1980. p. 8995.
12. "No. 48879". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 February 1982. p. 1402.
13. "No. 50128". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 May 1985. p. 7058.
14. "No. 50061". The London Gazette. 26 March 1985. p. 3482.
15. "No. 48540". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 March 1981. p. 3074.
16. Palmer

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Leslie Townsend	Defence Services Secretary 1982–1985	Succeeded by Sir Richard Peirse