Percival's Postal Prowess!
Warden Percival William Palmer BEM Air Raid Precaution & St John Ambulance
The Man Percival William Palmer was born in Bewdley, Worcestershire on 4th June 1886, son of Percival, a Coachman Groom and Sarah Ellen and was one of six children, Henry O born in 1890 Beatrice E 1892, Gertrude A 1894, James Edward 1897, and Charlotte Lilly 1899. By the time of the 1891census the family were living in The Coachman’s Cottage, Manor Castle Farm in Bewdley. Ten years later Percy Senior had sadly died, leaving Ellen a Widow and living with her brother and children at 27 Wyre Hill, Bewdley. Percy now aged 14, was shown as a Telegraph Messenger and during 1908 was appointed to the General Post Office, without competition as a Postman. It is not known if Percival served in the Armed Forces during World War I, but it is possible he was in the Worcestershire Regiment seeing no overseas service. He married Nellie Lowe in Wolverhampton during the first quarter of 16. Little additional detail is known about Percival except that he did join Worcestershire St. John Ambulance Brigade, number 48022 in about 1931and promoted to Corporal. He was awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St. John in 1946 followed by three additional long service bars representing a total of 30 years; retiring in about 1961 aged 1975. During World War II Percival served as an Air Raid Warden and was awarded the Defence Medal. He also continued working as a Postman in Bewdley until his retirement aged 60 in 1946 when he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal, the notification appearing in the London Gazette of 22nd November. It seems Percival found it hard to actually retire and continued working in Bewdley, being awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 13th June 1964 aged 78, as an Auxiliary Postman. Percival died in Bewdley during the first quarter of 1972 aged 85.
The Story The unusual and interesting set of medals awarded to Percival William Palmer were seen on E-Bay during March 2014. Unfortunately the vendor had split Percival’s medals, the British Empire Medal and Air Raid Precaution badge and whistle into three separate lots. Following some e mail exchanges with the vendor, they agreed to list the BEM with the main group; this was bid on and acquired on 6th April, the whistle and ARP badge being bid for by a friend in order to keep the entire lot together for posterity. It was a pleasant surprise to find the name P W Palmer engraved on the reverse of the ARP badge, proving the provenance. Sadly, although the vendor had only acquired the medals from Percival’s children a week or so before the sale, they we unable to provide any details of where they lived except they came from Bewdley and the usual checks on Ancestry.com and the London Gazette revealed sufficient detail to enable a brief biography to be pieced together. An unusual group to a very long serving postman, who seems to have pounded the streets of Bewdley every day for around 56 years! As well as serving in the local St John Ambulance in his spare time.
Medal Details:
- British Empire Medal: PERCIVAL WILLIAM PALMER
- Defence Medal: PERCIVAL WILLIAM PALMER
- Imperial Service Medal: PERCIVAL WILLIAM PALMER
- Service Medal of the Order of St John: 48022 CPL. P.W.PALMER. WORCS. S.J.A.B. 1948
Return to: The Collection
Go to Previous Page: Laurie Edwin PACY
Go to next Page: Frederick Henry PARK
Go to Previous Page: Laurie Edwin PACY
Go to next Page: Frederick Henry PARK
This page last updated 15 Aug 14