Graham Palmer (23 January 1921 – December 1994) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

sprint canoeist Canoe sprint is a water sport in which athletes race in specially designed sprint canoes or sprint kayaks on calm water over a short distance. Prior to November 2008, canoe sprint was known as flatwater racing. The term is still in use today ...

, born in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, who competed in the early 1950s. He finished 15th in the K-2 10,000m event at the

1952 Summer Olympics The 1952 Summer Olympics (, ), officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad (, ) and commonly known as Helsinki 1952, were an international multi-sport event held from 19 July to 3 August 1952 in Helsinki, Finland. After Japan declared in ...

Helsinki Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...

. He also competed in other events. The 18 year old Palmer fought in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and was taken prisoner in France in 1940. The account of his five years of captivity is detailed in his memoirs: ''Prisoner of Death: A Gripping Memoir of Courage and Survival Under the Third Reich''. ''Prisoner of Death: A Gripping Memoir of Courage and Survival Under the Third Reich'', Wellingburough, Northhamptonshire: Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1990, 215 p., ISBN 1-85260-305-4; reedition Haynes Publishings, 1991, ISBN 978-1852603052 After the war, he resumed his career as a quantity surveyor, eventually becoming a partner in a firm during 20 years. He later established his own company on the continent, till he retired. He died in 1994, 73 years old, survived by two sons, a daughter and eight grandchildren.

References

* 1921 births 1994 deaths Sportspeople from London Canoeists at the 1952 Summer Olympics Olympic canoeists for Great Britain British male canoeists {{UK-canoe-bio-stub