Born in Napier and went to England in 1938 after winning a scholarship to the Imperial Service College. Joined the Royal Navy in 1943, saw action during the D-Day invasion of France, learnt Japanese at London University 1948-1949, and then served as an interpreter in Japan in the Allied Occupation Force. Married Japanese woman Mitsuko Kurakawa in 1952. Served in the Middle East during the Suez Crisis (1956). Left the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 1960 and set up a deep sea joint fishing venture John Pallot and Co.
Pallot, John Spencer, 1924-2007
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Audio
Interview with John Pallot
Date: 23 Mar 2006
From: From memory oral history project
By: Pallot, John Spencer, 1924-2007
Reference: OHInt-0981-01
Description: Interview with John Pallot, born in Napier in 1924. Talks about his family background and his father dying when he was 13. Recalls the Napier earthquake and being evacuated to Auckland afterwards. Explains the origin of his intention for a naval career, winning a scholarship to a school in England and going there with his mother in 1938. Talks about attending the Imperial Service College at Windsor 1938-1942, and seeing the Battle of Britain and bombing. Discusses attending the Royal Naval College, the international student group he was in, and the training received. Refers to joining the battleship Malaya as a midshipman in late 1943, and then serving briefly on the Illustrious and the cruiser Enterprise. Talks about ship-board life, the Canadian captain, patrolling in the Bay of Biscay and a battle. Recalls seeing the dead being buried at sea, a German ship go down, and the need for discipline to prevent crew shooting Germans in the water. Refers to shore leave and then naval live fire exercises with Americans in the preparation for the invasion of France. Talks about receiving orders from the USS Augusta, preparing to go to Utah Beach, and waiting offshore in a sea filled with naval ships. Discusses his job on the ship, RAF bombing, gliders being towed over, and seeing troops going in. Recalls casualties being brought back by landing craft. Comments on spotter aircraft directing the naval guns, returning to England for ammunition, and joining the bombardment of Cherbourg. Refers to Churchill staying on the ship at Arromanches. Mentions VE day in Plymouth, passing his final seamanship exams, and further service on the submarine Seraph and in Fleet Air Arm. Talks about sailing via South Africa, India, Singapore, North Borneo and Hong Kong to Japan in 1947. Recalls seeing the devastation in Japan, and realising that the Japanese were actually human beings. Refers to volunteering to train as an interpreter, visiting New Zealand on the way back to England, and studying Japanese for a year at London University. Talks about being based in Japan at Kure with an Australian unit who were advanced language trainers. Explains how he met his future wife in Japan, attitudes in Japan and England towards such relationships, and having to wait until the Peace Treaty was ratified in 1952 before they could marry in England. Recalls her then talking for the first time about her experiences during the war including in Hiroshima. Discusses being appointed to the Amphibious Warfare Squadron and spending time in the Mediterranean until he returned to England to study Chinese. Talks about being given command of the landing ship HMS Salerno, the Suez crisis, confusion on the ground and various incidents. Refers to seeing no future in the Navy after Suez, resigning, but having his service extended to command the frigate HMS Russell in a Fishery Protection Squadron operating near Iceland. Reflects on his experiences during World War II, the lack of understanding of Japan, and the "mistakes Chamberlain made". Interviewer(s) - Alison Parr Accompanying material - A Biography on John Spencer Pallot, written by Caitlin Cragie (grand daughter) (11 p.); photocopy of article "Canterbury man is Navy League head" (The Mail, Aug 3 2000, 2 p.); the Pallot family tree (1 p.); photocopy of John Pallot's curriculum vitae (2 p.); photocopy of a letter to Prime Minister Bolger from the Navy League, dated 4 March 1994 (1 p.); "Operation Neptune" article (3 p., photocopy of typescript); photocopy of facing pages from a published history of World War II with maps and text about the Normandy landings and invasion in June and July 1944. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-021901 - OHC-021904 Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.52 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7238. Print of a scanned black and white photograph of John Pallot in naval uniform (1946) Search dates: 1924 - 1939 - 2006 - 1960
Image
World War II Official album. 2115-2555
Date: 1942-1943
From: New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency
Reference: PA1-q-298
Description: Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in North Africa and the Pacific during World War 2, 1939-1945, taken by various photographers and compiled for official purposes. Many of the group portraits are fully named in the album, many of whom are not listed above. Scenes include various views of the Kiwi Concert Party (with a named group portrait) on tour and in action, in Syria, Alexandria, Tripoli & Malta (p 1-5, 42, 137-138); New Zealanders in the RAF at Middle-Eastern stations (p 6-7, 19-23); casualties and medical officers from the El Alamein battle at a NZ military hospital, including a view of twin brothers E R & E O Riley who painted a mural while convalescing (p 8-9, 23); a group of NZ merchant seamen visited the 2nd NZEF base at Maadi with one of the soldiers at the base (A Currie, E Warner, D Duff (all from Lyttelton) and S Rogers from Wellington), with soldier W E M Cornish (also from Lyttelton). Lieutenant-General Montgomery inspecting troops and presenting awards (p 10-180 and Monty in the desert (p 63); from the Azizia region to Tripoli (p 24-36) including stacks of German bombs abandoned near Azizia, troops on leave in Tripoli, Monty visits, parades, scenes with Winston Churchill and Bernard Montgomery; inspection of troops and awards presented by General Freyberg (p 68-72, 75-76). The Libyan battle and advance to Benghazi; Xmas scenes at Maadi Camp (p 40-41), at the Helwan Hospital (p 53-54) & at Sirte (p 55-56); scenes of flooding in the desert; light naval craft in the harbour of a Western Desert port. Nursing sisters in the Western desert (p 45-49); infantry troops taking an Italian fort "Forte Giudice[?]" (p 50-51). Visit of the NZ Minister of Defence (Hon Frederick Jones (p 52-53, 84-85, 94-97, 125-127); presentation of 2 ambulances by the Hugh Baird family (Hastings) and the Sutherland Ross family (Dunedin). Clearing mines (p57-59); Divisional Signals in the desert (p 60-61); photographs taken on a German camera captured in the Sidi Barrani area (p 64-66); various sporting events including rugby championships in Tripoli (p 67-68) & Alexandria (p 72-74), hockey, tennis (p 149), swimming (p 149), and athletics in Cairo (p 127-129). An ambulance train, diesel drawn train of ambulance carriages operated by NZ engineers (p 79); NZ Spitfire fighters operating from Britain (Fl/Lt Pattison, Squad. Leader R J C Grant (DFC, DFM) & Fl/Lt Baker (DFC)); South Island airmen making a broadcast to NZ from the studios of the Canadian Broadcasting Studios in Halifax. Final phase of fighting in North Africa (p 89-93) and the surrender by General Messe, the German Chief of Staff. Scenes of the "First New Zealand Mule Pack Company" (p 129-131) for transporting ammunition and suppliesl in Tunisia; the marriage of Brigadier Kenneth MacCormick to NZ WAAC Joan Stewart Fenwick at Maadi Camp; reproductions of paintings and portraits by war artist Peter McIntyre (p 100-105, 113-114), including members of the Long Range desert Group, Benghazi, Siwa, Monty, Norman Johnston (NZ Broadcasting Unit) and entry into Tripoli. NZers at Stalag 18A Germany (photo taken by A "Carl" Carlisle); passing through Gabes & Sousse; arrival of men in NZ on home leave from Egypt (p 111-113), and office scenes showing the ballot for home leave (p 139-140); British and NZ forces repatriated from Italy on a hospital ship to Alexandria (p 115-116) and a British Embassy garden party for the troops held in the British Embassy grounds in Cairo (p 121-122, 131). Captured German weapons; the end of the North African Campaign; NZers in Britain; NZ prisoners in an Italian prison camp (photo taken by one who was repatriated (L P Halle from Wanganui); celebration of Empire Day in Cairo; command performance by unites of the Allied Forces for the King of Egypt; a group at Medinine; arrival back at Base Camp of the NZ Division after 2000 mile journey from near Tunis back to Maadi after continuous campaigning for nearly a year. Arrangement: Images in album form single numerical sequence, 2115-2555. Follows sequence established in PA1-q-294 Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with faded blue cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22 cm.