Themes
Jim Fallace
Article highlights
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The capture and survival of Jim Fallace, Japanese POW 1941 - 1942
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Freedom and justice
Freedom and justice
Fallace joined the Royal Indian Navy Volunteer Naval Reserve after leaving the Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (HKRNVR) serving as a Port Security and Intelligence Officer at various bases in India. Following a spell of UK leave he returned to India and Singapore.
But Fallace’s experience of being a prisoner of war was to be re-lived when, in mid 1946, he flew back to Hong Kong to assist the War Crimes Commission. His job was to gather evidence and to interview and interrogate. The Americans had captured his cruel Japanese Chief Interpreter Nimori who they were holding prisoner in Shanghai. The Commission ordered Fallace there in connection with the arrest. The Commission later tried Nimori and found him guilty of eight war crimes. He received a jail sentence of fifteen years.
Fallace returned to England and civilian life in late 1946. A year later he received the Royal Humane Society Medal for saving the life of Cadet Laole HKRNVR at the time of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru. He became a pub landlord until 1956 when he became a Steward in the Officer’s Mess at RM Deal where he worked until retirement in 1972.
Ex-Corporal Jim Fallace is saluted by Brigadier Pillar, the Commandant of Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines. (RMM)
