Vice Admiral John Thomas Goslin Pereira, a former officer of the Indian Navy, died on Monday at the age of 97. Pereira participated in the Second World War. He was ill for some time. Vice Admiral IC Rao (retd) said that Perera died early Monday in the Naval Hospital INS Ashwini in South Mumbai.
After retiring in 1979, Perera settled in the coastal city of Uran adjoining Raigad district. Born in Kannur district of Kerala in 1923, Perera joined the Royal Navy on 1 May 1944. Perera is survived by his son Michael Pereira (71) and daughter Jennifer (67).
According to Rao, Perera was one of the last surviving officers of the Navy who served in World War II. He also served on the battleship INS Delhi in 1958. Popularly known as JTG among Navy colleagues, Perera was the Chief Staff Officer (Technical) of the Western Naval Command in the 1971 war with Pakistan. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for notable service during the war.