PDF
« Previous

Palmer , Richard Charles (R C)

Next »
Photo of Palmer
Identity
Person No.
32420
Old ROH no.
1107
Service No.
67304519BT
Last Name
Palmer 22
First Name
Richard Charles
Initials
R C
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1951 (±1 yr) 254
Age at Death
25
Death Record
Date of Death
10 October 1976 169
Cause code
ACC 1,585
Accident
Cause of Death
Died of kidney failure 2
Died of kidney failure, as a result of injuries, received in a shooting accident, at Grootfontein on 4 Oct and transferred to 1 Mil
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Natal Carbineers 62
Later renamed Royal Natal Carbineers (1935)
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
Police
Defence Force
SADF 3,843
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
KwaZulu-Natal 1,589
Cemetery
DURBAN (STELLAWOOD) CREMATORIUM 15
Grave Reference
Alternative Commemoration until grave found 4
Unit History
Part of
German South West Africa Campaign 1915 › Units
Notes

Son of Mr. S. R. Palmer, of KwaNbonambi.

Research notes

John Dovey, 1 Sep 2026: Regiment moved from Unit field (was incorrectly stored as this records Unit) -- confirmed Natal Carbineers, no Unit known. Same pattern as the DLI Chapel Border War panel fix (Holland/Zondi, 1 Sep 2026).
14 Sep 2026: Pro Patria Medal added -- database-wide sweep for SADF Border War operational-area deaths within the medal's gazetted window (25 Jun 1976 - 27 Apr 2003), per the warrant's died-before-qualifying-period provision. See PersonAward.Citation for the gazette references.
14 Sep 2026: Pro Patria Medal added earlier today REVERTED -- John obtained the actual Government Gazette (GG 5171/5575); the "died before completing the qualifying period" provision relied on does not exist in the primary text (it was a secondary-source claim). Actual Rule 5 requires (a) combat/enemy-caused incident, (b) a Ministerially-acknowledged operation (clasp), or (c) 55+ continuous/90+ non-continuous days in an operational area -- none of which this record's cause of death clearly demonstrates.

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 3
on 12 March 2003 · via source
"Bones" Palmer as he was known was a member of the Natal Carbineers during SWA border duty Unknown Unknown
on 19 June 2003 · via source
Palmer died of injuries received when a rifle grenade exploded prematurely. Unknown Unknown
by Borain on 02 August 2008 · via source
As far as I know, R.C. Palmer "Bones", was a member of The Natal Carbineers, B Company, at the time of his death. Walter D.
Dedications

No dedications have been added yet.