Arthur Palliser
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Sir Arthur Francis Eric Palliser KCB
, DSC
(1890 – 22 February 1956) was a prominent British naval
officer during World War II
.
, joined the Royal Navy (RN) as a Midshipman
in 1907 and was trained at RN College, Dartmouth
and RN College, Greenwich. By 1911, he had achieved the rank of Lieutenant
.
Following service during World War I
was awarded Distinguished Service Cross
and Croix de Guerre avec Palme
in 1917.
He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
in 1919. In 1921, Palliser married Margaret Eva King Salter, with whom he had a son and a daughter. From 1923 to 1925 he attended HMS Excellent, a gunnery school at Portsmouth
. In 1927–28, Palliser attended a staff course at RN Staff College, Greenwich. During 1930–32, he achieved the rank of Captain
and spent brief periods as Fleet Gunnery Officer, Mediterranean, Executive Officer of the battlecruiser HMS Tiger
, with the Atlantic Fleet and as commander of the destroyer HMS Blanche
, in the Mediterranean.
During 1934–35, he attended RN War College, Greenwich, followed by an appointment as Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, China
(1936–38).
Palliser returned to the gunnery school at Excellent, as commander, in 1938–40.
HMS Malaya
in 1940–41 and was an Aide de Camp to King George VI during the same period.
In 1941, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief of the British Eastern Fleet
, Admiral Sir Thomas Phillips. During early 1942, as a Rear Admiral
, Palliser became Deputy Commander of Naval Forces, in the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
(ABDACOM) — a short-lived joint command for Allied
forces in South East Asia and the South West Pacific
— under the US Admiral Thomas C. Hart
and the Dutch admiral Conrad Helfrich
. Later that year, he was appointed Flag Officer and Fortress Commander at Trincomalee
and also served in a staff position with the Royal Indian Navy
at New Delhi
. On February 2, 1943 he was Mentioned in Despatches for "good services in the a term used in British circles for ABDACOM).
During 1943, he returned to the UK to command the 1st Cruiser Squadron.
In 1944, Palliser was made Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport
, a position he held until 1946. From 1946 he held the position of Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station. Palliser was made Knight Commander of the Bath in 1945, and was made a full Admiral
in 1947.
Palliser retired in 1948 and died on February 22, 1956 in Kensington
, London.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir Arthur Francis Eric Palliser KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
(1890 – 22 February 1956) was a prominent British naval
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life and career
Palliser was born in Richmond, Surrey, the son of Arthur Palliser and Hester Brenda Boord. He was educated at Bradfield CollegeBradfield College
Bradfield College is a coeducational independent school located in the small village of Bradfield in the English county of Berkshire.The college was founded in 1850 by Thomas Stevens, Rector and Lord of the Manor of Bradfield...
, joined the Royal Navy (RN) as a Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in 1907 and was trained at RN College, Dartmouth
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
and RN College, Greenwich. By 1911, he had achieved the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
.
Following service during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was awarded Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
and Croix de Guerre avec Palme
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
in 1917.
He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in 1919. In 1921, Palliser married Margaret Eva King Salter, with whom he had a son and a daughter. From 1923 to 1925 he attended HMS Excellent, a gunnery school at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
. In 1927–28, Palliser attended a staff course at RN Staff College, Greenwich. During 1930–32, he achieved the rank of Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
and spent brief periods as Fleet Gunnery Officer, Mediterranean, Executive Officer of the battlecruiser HMS Tiger
HMS Tiger (1913)
The 11th HMS Tiger was a battlecruiser of the Royal Navy, built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland, and launched in 1913. Tiger was the most heavily armoured battlecruiser of the Royal Navy at the start of the First World War although she was still being finished when the war began...
, with the Atlantic Fleet and as commander of the destroyer HMS Blanche
HMS Blanche (H47)
HMS Blanche was a built for the Royal Navy around 1930. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939, the ship spent considerable time in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict. She was attacked, but not damaged, by Nationalist bombers...
, in the Mediterranean.
During 1934–35, he attended RN War College, Greenwich, followed by an appointment as Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, China
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
(1936–38).
Palliser returned to the gunnery school at Excellent, as commander, in 1938–40.
World War II
Palliser commanded the battleshipBattleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
HMS Malaya
HMS Malaya (1915)
HMS Malaya was a Queen Elizabeth class battleship of the British Royal Navy, built by Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth and Company at High Walker and launched in March 1915...
in 1940–41 and was an Aide de Camp to King George VI during the same period.
In 1941, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief of the British Eastern Fleet
British Eastern Fleet
The British Eastern Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed from 1941 to 1971...
, Admiral Sir Thomas Phillips. During early 1942, as a Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
, Palliser became Deputy Commander of Naval Forces, in the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, or ABDACOM, was a short-lived, supreme command for all Allied forces in South East Asia, in early 1942, during the Pacific War in World War II...
(ABDACOM) — a short-lived joint command for Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
forces in South East Asia and the South West Pacific
South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific theatres of World War II, during 1942–45...
— under the US Admiral Thomas C. Hart
Thomas C. Hart
Thomas Charles Hart was an admiral of the United States Navy, whose service extended from the Spanish-American War through World War II. Following his retirement from the Navy, he served briefly as a United States Senator from Connecticut.-Life and career:Hart was born in Genesee County, Michigan...
and the Dutch admiral Conrad Helfrich
Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich
Luitenant-Admiraal Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich, GNL, KCB of the Royal Netherlands Navy was a leading Dutch naval figure of World War II. He was born in Semarang....
. Later that year, he was appointed Flag Officer and Fortress Commander at Trincomalee
Trincomalee Garrison
The Trincomalee Garrison is a common name used for collection of military bases of the Sri Lanka Army located in and around the Fort Fredrick and the town of Trincomalee in the Eastern Province. Due to the large natural harbor, it is one of the oldest military garrisons in Sri Lanka and has been...
and also served in a staff position with the Royal Indian Navy
Royal Indian Navy
The Royal Indian Navy was the naval force of British India. Along with the Presidency armies and the later British Indian Army it comprised the Armed Forces of British India....
at New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. On February 2, 1943 he was Mentioned in Despatches for "good services in the a term used in British circles for ABDACOM).
During 1943, he returned to the UK to command the 1st Cruiser Squadron.
In 1944, Palliser was made Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport
Fourth Sea Lord
The Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Supplies was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the Board of Admiralty which controlled the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.-History:...
, a position he held until 1946. From 1946 he held the position of Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station. Palliser was made Knight Commander of the Bath in 1945, and was made a full Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
in 1947.
Palliser retired in 1948 and died on February 22, 1956 in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London.