Edwin Mansergh Palmer
Captain (retired) Edwin Mansergh Palmer, O.B.E., (23 June, 1882 – 19 November, 1945) served in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Palmer was born in Armagh, the son of physician J. Mansergh Palmer. He gained five months' seniority upon passing out of Britannia in September, 1898 and received his first appointment, to the battleship Jupiter of the Channel Squadron. After one year, he joined the second class protected cruiser Astræa in the Mediterranean.[1]
Palmer failed his navigation examination in June, 1902 and pass it in September. In March, 1903, he would fail gunnery and pass it the following month.
Palmer was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 September, 1904 as he was finishing an appointment in the [Channel Squadron]]'s battleship Jupiter. A faintly positive evaluation in October from her Captain Startin ("fairly zealous") was more than undercut by a note from Vice-Admiral Beresford: "A very unsatisy. report. I consider this officer unfitted for appt. to a T.B.D.." Palmer was sent to the destroyer Cherwell for a month and then to Flirt for another.[2]
On 24 October, 1907, Palmer received a second class certificate in Physical Training duties.[3]
Palmer was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 September, 1912.[4]
Great War
On 15 April, 1917, the S.S. Turritella, which had been captured by a German prize crew and then "employed as a minelayer" was scuttled after being overtaken by Odin under command of Palmer's command. Palmer was praised for his conduct in the event and gave up command of Odin on 18 May, 1917.[5]
Palmer was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1917 and on 23 July was mentioned in despatches for gallantry in military operations in Aden in the period 10 March 1916 to 31 March, 1917.[6]
Palmer was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 January, 1923.[7]
Having recently taken up the role of port officer in Port Sudan, Palmer was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List upon reaching the age forty-five on 23 June, 1927.[8]
World War II
Palmer was appointed as Naval Officer in Charge, Aberdeen, vice Coombs on 6 November, 1939. On the 27th, he was appointed to Afrikander V as Maintenance Captain on Staff of the Commander in Chief, South Atlantic.[9]
On 1 October, 1941, he was appointed in command of H.M.S. Okapi and H.M.S. Eland, as Flag Captain to Commander in Chief, South Atlantic. David Bruce Nicol superseded him in these roles very soon thereafter.[10]
He was reverted to the Retired List on 30 October, 1945.[11]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Dalhousie 26 Aug, 1914[12] – 15 Jan, 1917[13] |
Succeeded by Cathcart R. Wason |
| Preceded by Cathcart R. Wason |
Captain of H.M.S. Odin 15 Jan, 1917[14] – 18 May, 1917[15] |
Succeeded by James S. C. Salmond |
| Preceded by Henry M. Coombs |
Senior Naval Officer and D.N.T.O., Aberdeen 6 Nov, 1939[16] – 27 Nov, 1939[17] |
Succeeded by Colpoys C. Walcott as Naval Officer in Charge, Aberdeen |
| Preceded by Rupert S. Gwatkin-Williams |
Captain of H.M.S. Edinburgh Castle 14 Mar, 1940[18] – 31 Jul, 1941[19] |
Succeeded by David B. Nicol |
Footnotes
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367. More on the Turritella incident can be found here.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 399c.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/162. f. 367.
- ↑ Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 367.
- ↑ Nicol Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/133. f. 144.
