Great War North Sea destroyer and light cruiser operations and long service group awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class C. Palmer, Royal Navy. Palmer from Gillingham, Kent was with the Grand Fleet during the Great War, and was with the light cruiser Cambrian from August 1917. He was awarded the long service medal in January 1922.
Group of 3: British War Medal and Victory Medal; (271836 C. PALMER. ACT. C.E.R.A.2. R.N.); Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, GVR Adm. bust; (271836 C. PALMER. C.E.R.A.2. H.M.S. IMPREGNABLE.)
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Charles Palmer was born on 11 December 1888 in Gillingham, Kent, and having been to school, then joined the Royal Navy a a Boy Artificer (Devonport No.271836) with Pembroke II from 26 October 1902. After a long period of time learning his trade aboard Tenedos, he was advanced to Engine Room Artificer 5th Class on 1 July 1909, and then to Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 1 July 1910 whilst aboard Assistance, followed by Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 31 October 1910 whilst aboard Prometheus, before being advanced to Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class on 1 July 1913 whilst aboard Skirmisher. With the outbreak of the Great War he was with the destroyer depot ship Leander at Scapa Flow.
Posted to Vivid II from November 1916, he was advanced to Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class on 1 July 1917, and then joined the light cruiser Cambrian from 1 August 1917, being advanced to Acting Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class while aboard her on 1 March 1918, and then confirmed in the rank of Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class whilst still with her on 1 March 1919. Having seen service with her as part of the Grand Fleet he was then aboard her through to April 1921 on the North America and West Indies Station. Palmer was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 18 January 1922 whilst with Impregnable. Promoted to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class on 1 March 1924 whilst with Durban, he was pensioned from service on 10 December 1928, being briefly recalled at the time of the Coronation Review in 1937.