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Son of Anthony Joseph Ignatius and Anna Maria Panzera. Born Canford, Dorset. Panzera served two years in the Royal and Militia Artillery and was then posted to serve as an Acting Engineer with the Royal Engineers to raise and train the Harwich Militia Division and First Class Army Reserve Submarine Miners. In 1892 he became part of the War Officer and served in the Colonial Office in South Africa. He was then Government Engineer Officer and Superintendent of Public Works for the Protectorate of Bechuanaland Border Police, becoming a member of the Protectorate Concessions Commission and taking command of the imperial base at Macloustie and the Eastern line of communications (1893). He served during the First Matabele War (1893-1894) where his actions were rewarded with the British South Africa Company (BSA) medal and promotion to Major in the Reserve of Officers. He was served as magistrate for Macloustie and Tati districts, becoming secretary to the Khama Eastern Boundary Comission and representative to the Vryburg-Palepve section of the Rhodesian railways. Special Commissioner for the Ngamiland region (in modern Botswana) (1898-1899), and later during the Second Boer War (1899-1902) he commanded the artillery defences during the Siege of Mafeking (1899-1900) under Colonel, later Lord, Baden Powell. His conduct at Mafeking saw him Mentioned in Despatches and singled out for praise: Maj. Panzera, British South Africa Police, as commanding Artillery, showed himself a smart and practical gunner, endowed with the greatest zeal, coupled with personal gallantry, even when opposed to the modern armament of the enemy, was largely due to Panzera?s organization and handling of them. His actions saw him receive the King?s medal, with two bars, and promotion to Lieut.-Colonel of the Reserve of Officers. Subsequently Panzera became a close friend of Baden Powell. Panzera held a number of positions in the Bechuanaland Protectorate (later the Republic of Botswana) where he became Assistant Commissioner for the Northern Protectorate and Resident Magistrate for Palapye and Francistown (1902-1906). Later Panzera was promoted to the position of Resident Commissioner (1907-1916) a position which saw him assume responsibly for a population of some 125,000 citizens, and settle several boundary disputes (Herter 2011). His success saw him created Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). Panzera gave up his position to take up a position as Commandant of a Detention Camp in England, and later took control at Knockaloe, succeeding Lieut-Colonel J M Chippendale in 1916 who resigned after the discovery of an escape tunnel (Ramsey Courier, 18 February 1916: 5). While in charge at Knockaloe Panzera "proved to be a Christian gentleman with real sympathy for the unfortunately men under his charge". Throughout his career he published books on Questions and Answers on Gunnery (1882), a highly regarded work that went into its fourth edition, and The Officering of the Artillery Militia. Panzera had been in ill health for a little while, but died of heart-failure while conducting a tour of the camp with Brigadier-General D. A. Thomas (CMG) in June 1917 (Ramsey Courier 8 June 1917: 3). His widow was at the time of his death living at the family home in Gatwick, Dovercourt (Essex), while his daughters were living with him in Peel, Isle of Man. He also had a son and grandson, both of whom were serving in the African campaign at the time of his death.