Tim Llewellen-Palmer and the two co-authors of this rather inadequate tribute all met at Sandhurst in the mid-thirties and remained close friends from that date, all joining the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars in Cairo within months of each other.

Lt Col CT Llewellen-Palmer, MC
Lt Col CT Llewellen-Palmer, MC

Tim entered with zest into what was then the very gay life of Cairo. At the same time, he showed considerable promise as a Polo Player and it is pretty certain, that but for the outbreak of war, he would have achieved a respectable handicap at a comparatively early age.

When Tim joined the 7th the Regiment was in the process of changing over from horses to tanks. He joined ‘A’ Squadron which was then commanded by the late Freddy Byass who himself was a great Cavalryman and could not have had a better tutor in all aspects of soldiering and in the traditions of the 7th as they existed in those days.

War was soon to come and as was to be expected Tim had a distinguished record and in the process gained two Military Crosses. At the beginning of the war, Paddy Cleere was his Troop Sergeant and they were to have a long partnership together, both moving to higher ranks and only ending when Tim relinquished command of the Regiment.

At the end of the war, Tim did a course at the Staff College, but he was much too eccentric and unconventional to take up staff duties seriously and soon he was to go as Second in Command to the Leicestershire Yeomanry with his old friend Paddy Cleere and together they were a great success and
extremely popular with the Yeoman.

His lifestyle in this period was more reminiscent of the days after the First War than after the last one; hunting with the famous Shire Packs played a big part and indeed he was to become Joint Master of the Quorn for two or three seasons.

After his stay in the Yeomanry, he went as Second in Command to the Regiment in Hong Kong, eventually taking over from John Congreve. His hospitality while in Hong Kong to all and sundry had to be seen to be believed and is still talked about. His kindness and generosity to all were out of this world as very many, especially the young and also the co-authors of this tribute, have reason to know.

Matrimony came to Tim comparatively late in his life, but what a happy marriage when it did come, in Cynthia he found the partner he must have been searching for years.

Few people can have filled 60 years quite as fully as Tim did. The youngest of four brothers, all of them with distinguished military careers, he was that rare commodity, in this or any other age, “a character”. That he was without fear was shown both in battle and on the hunting field.

Very many people will miss him, few more than his old Brother Officers, but it is of course to his widow, Cynthia, his four children and his one surviving brother Tony, that our deepest sympathy is directed at this sad time.

Related topics

  1. A short history of The 7th Hussars
  2. Timeline: Middle East (Egypt and Libya)
  3. Timeline: Italy 1943-5
  4. Gallantry Award: Citation and Award of The Military Cross – Lt CT Palmer, 7H
  5. Gallantry Award: Citation and Award of a Bar to The Military Cross – Lt CT Palmer, M.C., 7H