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Rear-Adm. L. E. H. Maund
Loben Edward Harold Maund (26 Sept. 1892-18 June 1957) was a rear admiral of the British Royal Navy, who served in World War I and World War II. He was the captain of the aircraft carrier Ark Royal...view moreLoben Edward Harold Maund (26 Sept. 1892-18 June 1957) was a rear admiral of the British Royal Navy, who served in World War I and World War II. He was the captain of the aircraft carrier Ark Royal when she was sunk in November 1941, but went on to serve in Combined Operations, playing an important role in the development of landing craft.
Born in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, he entered the Navy in 1905. He was trained at the Royal Naval Colleges at Osborne and Dartmouth and was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in 1913.
He served throughout World War I, was promoted to lieutenant in 1914, and saw action at the battle of Jutland in 1916. From 1918-1919 he served as commander of the destroyer Scorpion.
He was promoted to lieutenant-commander in 1922 and from 1923-1925 was Staff Officer (Operations) to the Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies aboard the cruiser Chatham. In 1926 he served aboard the Caradoc in the Mediterranean, before being appointed Executive Officer of the Curlew in 1927.
Promoted to commander in 1927, he served as Naval Assistant Secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence until 1930, when he was appointed Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier Furious in 1931. He was promoted to captain in 1934.
In 1938 he was appointed Commandant of the Inter-Service Training and Development Centre based at Portsmouth. From April-June 1940 he served as Naval Chief of Staff to the Flag Officer, Narvik, during the Norwegian Campaign. He then served in the Operations Division of the Admiralty.
In 1941 he took command of the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, taking part in the operation to sink the battleship Bismarck, for which he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Following the sinking of the Royal Ark, he was appointed Director of Combined Operations, Middle East in 1942 and India in 1943. He returned to the UK and between 1944-1945 served as Rear-Admiral, Landing Ships and Craft.view less