Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Wilfred Palmer, was the son of Ernest George and Ethel Mary Palmer, of Kenton, Middlesex.

HMS Oxley (Lt.Cdr. Harold Godfrey Bowerman, RN) was torpedoed and sunk in error by HMS Triton (Lt.Cdr. H.P. De C. Steele, RN) about 28 nautical miles south-south-west of Stavanger, Norway in position 58º30'N, 05º30'E. HMS Triton picked up two survivors, but 53 men were lost.

Oxley was 4 nautical miles inside Triton's area due to a navigational error. Lt.Cdr Steel of Triton made 3 challenges which went unanswered then fired a green signal grenade which also produced no response. He therefore had to assume the sub was hostile and fired 2 torpedoes, sinking Oxley.

The puzzling lack of response from Oxley was explained by Lt.Cdr Bowerman, who survived the sinking with one of the bridge watch: he stated he was called to the bridge following the sighting of Triton's signal grenade, but when he tried to answer, his grenade malfunctioned.

The Officer of the Watch Lt. Manley, RNR, claimed to have answered Triton's challenge, but Bowerman was not sure this had been done properly. Before he could put things right, however, Oxley was struck by Triton's torpedo and he was catapulted into the sea together with one of the lookouts and Lt. Manley. Lt. Manley was seen in the water but when they could be picked up from the water he was gone.

A Board of Enquiry found that Oxley was some way out of position and that Triton had acted correctly, and was not culpable for the sinking. During the war, the loss of Oxley was attributed to an accidental explosion- after the war, it was said to have been a collision with Triton, and the truth was not made public until the 1950s.

Info sources :
M. Blenkinsopp, 2018
https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3393.html
https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?434