PALMER Cecil Howard

Mentioned in Despatches.

Served in the South African Campaign (Mentioned in Despatches). A.D.C. to General Aldershot Infantry Brigade. 1901-2 Adjutant 1st Worcestershire Volunteer Battalion. 1906-9 Hampshire County Cricketer. Native of Eastbourne.

Cecil Palmer was born on 14th July 1873 at Eastbourne, Sussex, the younger son of the Reverend James Howard Palmer and Marian Palmer (nee Edwards). He was educated at Ashamptead, Eastbourne and Radley College and he was an excellent athlete and a fine cricketer. While at Radley he represented his school at cricket and football. He was a first team member for Hampshire County Cricket Club 1899-1907 and Worcestershire County Cricket Club 1904. He was also an excellent tennis player and won events at a number of local tournaments. Cecil married Hilda Beatrice Hall at Alton Parish Church on 28th November 1903 and they had 3 children. He was killed in the trenches in the Dardanelles, Turkey by a sniper at around 11 p.m. on 26th July 1915, aged 42.

Sources for additional information: 9th Warwickshire War Diary, Kidderminster Shuttle and Worcestershire Mercury 21st August 1915, Tipton Herald 7th August 1915.

1911 Census
1 Harold Terrace, Dover, Kent
Cecil Palmer, head, age 37, Captain Worcestershire Regiment of Infantry, born Eastbourne, Sussex
Hilda Palmer, wife, age 34, married 7 years, 3 children all still living, born Alton, Hampshire
John Palmer, son, age 6, born Barbados, West Indies
Philippa Palmer, daughter, age 3, born Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Gerald Palmer, son, age 2, born Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Edith Edwards, aunt, age 65, single, Private means, born Holme, Norfolk
There was also 3 female servants – a cook, nurse and house parlourmaid

De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1918:
PALMER, Cecil Howard
Lieut-Colonel, The Worcestershire Regt attached 9th (Service) Battalion The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, younger son of the Reverend James Howard Palmer, Vicar of East Worldham, Alton, Hampshire, by his wife, Marian, daughter of the Rev I.F. Edwards, Rector of Holme, Norfolk; born Eastbourne, Sussex 14th July 1873; educated Ashampstead; Eastbourne, and Radley College; was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, The Worcestershire Regt from the Militia 2nd June 1894; and promoted Lieutenant 1st February 1897, Captain 20th June 1900, Major 27th June 1912, and Temporary Lieut-Colonel in command of the 9th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 19 August 1914; served in the South African War 1899-1900, being employed with the Mounted Infantry; took part in the operations in the Orange Free State February to May 1900, including actions at Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June), and those in Orange River Colony May, 1900, including actions at Lindley, Bethlehem and Wittebergen (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; Queen’s Medal with four clasps); was A.D.C. to the Major-General Commanding the Infantry Brigade at Aldershot 1 November 1901, to 1902, and Adjutant of Volunteers 18 November 1906 to 31 March 1908, and in the Territorial Force from 1st April, 1908 to 17th November 1909. On the outbreak of war in August 1914, he was in command of the depot at Worcester; left for the Dardanelles in command of the 9th Royal Warwickshires, June 1915, and was killed in action there 25th July following.  Buried at Cape Helles. Major-General Shaw, Commanding the 13th Division wrote: “It may help a little to soften the blow to know how highly we thought of him and what good work he was doing for his country. He had made his battalion and made it a good one, and that is a record of which you may all be proud,” and General Caley: “I feel your poor husband’s loss most deeply, for not only was he a splendidly efficient Commanding Officer, but a friend with whom I have been intimately associated since the New Army came into being. No officer in the brigade has been more untiring in his exertions, and there seemed no limit to his energy…….The efficiency of his battalion will remain as a memorial to him, a memorial of which you can be ever proud.”  Major Gordon, Second in Command, also wrote: “We all deplore the death of our gallant Colonel most grievously. We all loved and respected him. I don’t know how we shall get on without him; he was the very soul of the regiment,” and Captain Simpson, Brigade-Major: “His death is to me a double loss, both as a personal friend and also one of the first and most valuable officers we had in the 39th Brigade.  Nobody knows better than I do all that he did for his battalion during the last 12 months, and both they and we are sadly the poorer for his loss.” Lieut-Colonel Palmer was mentioned in Despatches by Sir Ian Hamilton [London Gazette, 28 January 1916], for his gallant and distinguished service in the field.  While at Radley he represented his school at cricket and football; later playing cricket for Hampshire on several occasions, and also won the Singles in the Divisional Lawn Tennis Tournament at Aldershot.  He married at Alton Parish Church, 28 November 1903, Hilda Beatrice, eldest daughter of Gerald Hall, of Anstey Manor, Alton, and had three children: John Cecil, born 25 March 1905, Gerald Michael, born 17th March 1909, and Philippa Helen, Born 1st January 1908.
The entry has a photograph of Lieutenat-Colonel Cecil Palmer.

Cecil Palmer has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on the Royal Warwickshire Regiment Panel on Helles Memorial.