After World War I, Pipon served as
naval attaché in
Paris, France,
chief of staff to the
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth and commanded the battleship in 1930–1932. His last appointment before retiring in 1936 was as
Rear-Admiral-in-Command and
Admiral-superintendent,
HM Dockyard, Gibraltar. The post of Senior British Naval Officer,
Suez Canal Area was established on 14 December 1939, with Vice Admiral James M. Pipon taking command on 7 January 1940. Pipon was shore based, at Ismailia in Egypt. He reported directly to the
Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet. In the Navy List for December 1940 Pipon is shown as borne on the books of
Stag, 'additional, for various services.' ==Personal life==