Anthony Palmer was approx. 35 years old, and a Private in the 3rd Bn., Grenadier Guards, during the Crimean War when the following act of bravery took place for which he was awarded the VC.

His citation reads:

On 5 November 1854 at the Battle of Inkerman, Crimea, Private Palmer, with two other men were the first to volunteer to go with a brevet major (Charles Sir Russell) to dislodge a party of Russians from the Sandbag Battery. The attack succeeded. During this action Private Palmer shot down an assailant who was in the act of bayoneting the brevet major, and so saved his life. He was also one of a small band which, by a desperate charge against overwhelming numbers, saved the Colours of the battalion from capture.

Palmer was born in Brereton Green, Cheshire on 10 March 1819 and died on 12 December 1892 in Manchester. He is buried in Heywood Cemetery, Rochdale with other family members.

Anthony Palmer's gravestone

Private Anthony Palmer VC was enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in 1838.

He had a chequered career in that he was convicted of desertion or absence without leave no less than 10 times and was promoted to corporal and reduced back to private three times. His VC was later stolen, but special permission was given for another to be struck. He was also awarded the Crimean medal with four clasps and the Bentinck Medal.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Grenadier Guards Regimental Headquarters, Wellington Barracks, London, England.