Early life
He was born on 17 October 1928 and is the son of Lieutenant Colonel William Robert Palmer, DSO and his wife Joan Audrey Palmer (née Smith). He was educated at Wellington College at Crowthorne in Berkshire.
Military Career
He attended the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst after which Joseph Michael Palmer was commissioned into the 14th/20th King’s Hussars as a 2nd Lieutenant on 22 December 1948, his service number was 400011.
Promoted to Lieutenant on 22 December 1950, he was Adjutant of 14th/20th King’s Hussars from 1953 to 1955, and was given the acting rank of Captain on appointment. Promoted to Captain on 22 December 1954, he served as Adjutant of the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry from 1956 to 1959.
He attended Staff College, Camberley in 1960 and was promoted to Major on 22 December 1961, he attended the Joint Services Staff College in 1965. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 30 June 1969 and between 1969 and 1972 he was Commanding Officer of the Regiment.
He was promoted Colonel on 30 June 1973 and he went on to be Commander Royal Armoured Corps at Headquarters 1st (British) Corps in 1974 and on promoted to Brigadier on 31 December 1974, he became Assistant Chief of Staff at Allied Forces Central Europe in 1976.
He became Director Royal Armoured Corps on 08 December 1978 and was promoted to Major General on 19 February 1980. He was Defence Services Secretary from 1982 to 1985, when he retired. On 21 March 1985 General Palmer was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).
General Palmer was appointed Colonel of the Regiment the Regiment on 15 February 1981 and served in that role until the the regiment amalgamated with the Royal Hussars (PWO) to form the King’s Royal Hussars on the 04 December 1992.
Sadly, General Joseph Michael Palmer passed away on the 21st February 2017 at the age of 88.
History of the 14th/20th King's Hussars 