John "Jack", "Jock" White Cameron
John White Cameron around 1980
In December 2019, Jack's son, John, very kindly sent the following information about his father.
Jack was born on December 21, 1913 and joined the navy in 1930 when it was the NZ Division of the Royal Navy with the service number NZ 1034, and spent a lot of time in England training.
Jack had a long and interesting service record:
| Ship | From | To | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Philomel NZ Naval Base | September 22 1929 | June 4, 1930 | Boy, 2nd Class |
| HMS Dunedin NZ Station Flag Ship | June 5, 1930 | February 16, 1931 | Boy, 1st Class |
| HMS Diomede | February 17, 1931 | August 31, 1933 | Boy, 1st Class |
| HMS Dunedin | September 1, 1933 | March 13, 1935 | Able Seaman |
| HMS Pembroke | March 14, 1935 | July 30, 1935 | Able Seaman |
| HMS Valiant | July 31, 1935 | February 4, 1937 | Able Seaman |
| HMS Pembroke | February 5, 1937 | April 22, 1937 | Able Seaman |
| HMS Vernon | April 23, 1937 | September 8, 1937 | Able Seaman |
| HMS Pembroke | September 9, 1937 | February 3, 1938 | Leading Seaman |
| HMS Leander | February 4, 1938 | May 20, 1941 | Petty Officer |
| HMAS Cerebus - Flinders Naval Base | May 21, 1941 | December 12, 1942 | Petty Officer |
| HMNZ Philomel | December 13, 1941 | June 21, 1942 | Petty Officer |
| HMNZS Achillies | June 22, 1942 | September 21, 1943 | Petty Officer |
| HMNZS Gambia | September 22, 1943 | February 6, 1946 | Chief Petty Officer |
John, his son wrote that, "The navy was a good life for my father pre war. As a boy coming from a farm he had the opportunity to see and experience much of the world which was not an easy thing to do unless you were extremely wealthy in those days and especially from this part of the world. As well there was no need to worry about accommodation or where your next meal was coming from."
He spent the war serving on HMNZS Gambia as Chief Petty Officer torpedoman. Jack was present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay and was awarded the DSM for actions during the encounters with the Kamikaze. The award was listed in the London Gazette of January 1, 1946, and he also received an appreciation certificate from King George.
Jack left the navy shortly after the war. He passed away on September 16, 1986.
The Japanese Surrender Certificate reads:
This is to certify that
Chief Petty Officer, J. Cameron, NZ 1034
was a member of the Ship's Company of
H.M.N.Z.S. "GAMBIA"
during operations of the British Pacific Fleet
U.S. Third Fleet against Japan, March - September
H.M.N.Z.S. "GAMBIA" fired the last shot against the
Japanese Homeland at Kamashi on 9th August 1945; and
had the distinction of representing New Zealand at the
formal Surrender of the Japanese Empire in Tokyo Bay
on 2nd September 1945.
C. M. Jacob
Commander, Royal Navy
Ralph Edwards
Captain, Royal Navy
The DSM Citation reads:
Award of the Distinguished Service Medal to Chief Petty Officer John White Cameron, Royal New Zealand Navy - 1946.
"For distinguished service during the war Far East. Chief Petty Officer Cameron has served in H.M.N.Z.S. 'Gambia' during the whole period that she has been operating with the British Pacific Fleet. This included the bombardments of Miyako and Kamaishi, and included several engagements with enemy aircraft.
"As the senior torpedo rating, Chief Petty Officer Cameron has set a fine example of tireless attention to duty and cool, collected efficiency. When the 'Kamakaze' threat was properly appreciated and the vital necessity for a proper after control and conning position was realized, it was this Chief Petty Officer, working day and night, who was largely responsible for creating, in an incredibly short time, all the manifold communications required."
The medals Jack received were Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), Naval General Service Medal GVI clasp Palestine, 1939–1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939–1945, New Zealand War Service Medal GVI, New Zealand War Service Medal EII. The above photo of his medals are miniatures, his actual medals are on loan to the Auckland War Memorial Museum which is why some show the head of ER11, at the time the family could not get miniatures with George V1 head