Private Desmond J J Palmer

Desmond Joseph James Palmer was the son of Joseph and Adeline Palmer, of Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex. He enlisted into the Royal Norfolk Regiment and volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Palmer successfully completed his parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 64 from 10 to 21 May 1943 and was posted to Signals Platoon, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. He took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Pte Palmer was killed in action on 19 September 1944, aged 21, and was given a field burial by the Dutch Red Cross in the grounds of the St Elisabeth Hospital, Oosterbeek, and was re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 21 November 1945.

If you are part of Pte Palmer’s family and would like to complete this biography, you can apply to the curator to do so. To do this you will need to become a member of ParaData and select the 'friend or family member' option on the registration form. If you would like to find out more about becoming a member please visit our registration page.

Members of ParaData can submit their material by clicking on the 'Add content to this article' button on the right.