From the depot he joined the regiment's 2nd Battalion who were, in 1937, in Palestine. On Christmas Day 1937, Stamer was commander of a small force comprising two companies of his own battalion and a company of the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment on operations against Arab raiders from Syria. Stamer's force came under fire and in an engagement that lasted most of the day Stamer's men inflicted 25 to 30 casualties upon their enemies while suffering less casualties themselves. Stamer was awarded the DSO for his leadership during the engagement, and the citation read