William Palmer was born in 1880 in Chellaston, the son of William and Eleanor Sowter Palmer (nee Harris). In 1891 and 1901 the family were living at Bolton Edge Farm, (Back Lane), Chellaston. By 1911 they had moved to Diseworth in Leicestershire.

William Palmer emigrated to Australia and purchased a farm which he later sold and then enlisted in the Australian Light Infantry on 2nd January 1916. On his attestation papers he gave his trade as farmer, of Thuddungra Young, New South Wales, Australia. He stated that he was unmarried and gave his next of kin as his father, William Palmer, of Diseworth.

He was 5 feet 5 inches tall, 154 pounds, grey eyes and brown hair, of medium complexion. His religion was Church of England.

He died in the Goulburn District Hospital, New South Wales, Australia on 6th May 1916 from pneumonia and cardiac failure.

He is commemorated at Goulbourn General Cemetery, Australia, on the Chellaston War Memorial and on the Diseworth Memorial.