Henry Maurice Coombs

Captain (retired) Henry Maurice Coombs, D.S.O. (29 August, 1886 – 25 March, 1944) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Coombs was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1908.

Appointed to Harrier as first lieutenant on 13 February, 1913. Admitted to Haslar for boils on 24 June, 1913. Found fit on 4 July. Admitted to Haslar for renal calculus on the right side on 14 February, 1914. Found fit on 9 June and re-appointed in Harrier. He would serve in her until being appointed to Queen Elizabeth, additional, on 12 January, 1915. Ordered from her to report to the Admiralty on 17 February, 1916. On the 28th, he was appointed to the Wormwood Scubles Airship Station. On 11 April, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Beagle.

Coombs was appointed in command of Beagle in April, 1916 and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander in her on 30 June, 1916.

On 15 April 1917, Coombs attacked an enemy submarine while on escort duty in Beagle.

Appointed in command of Sturgeon on 30 November, 1917, Coombs was awarded a D.S.O. for destroying an enemy submarine with her on 11 March, 1918. There is no clear indication on Uboat.net that the Germans lost a submarine on this date.

Coombs was hospitalised for a week at Shotley with conjunctivitis on 24 June, 1918.

Post-War

Coombs left Sturgeon for Murray in February, 1919 but switched to Seabear before the month was out. Coombs was appointed in command of the destroyer Vanessa on 1 February, 1920 upon Seabear reducing. Coombs was re-appointed in Vanessa, temporary, upon his promotion to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1920. He went on unpaid time upon being superseded on 18 January, 1921. From April, 1921 to 1 July 1923, Coombs served as the Drafting Commander in Pembroke Royal Naval Barracks.

Coombs began a two year appointment as executive officer in the light cruiser Coventry on 24 October 1923. After some unpaid time, Coombs was appointed to command Volunteer from 1 April, 1926 to 2 May, 1928.

In 1931, Winchester collided with Courageous due to an error in judgment on Coombs's part.

Coombs was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 31 August, 1932.

World War II

Appointed on 29 August 1938 as N.O.I.C., Aberdeen. This lasted until 6 November, 1939. On the 24th, he was sent back to the Retired List due to medical unfitness.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Theodore E. J. Bigg	Captain of H.M.S. Beagle 11 Apr, 1916 – Sep, 1917	Succeeded by Alfred E. Evans
Preceded by Roger L'E. M. Rede	Captain of H.M.S. Martin 15 Oct, 1917 – late Nov, 1917	Succeeded by Frederick A. P. Foster
Preceded by Ralph M. Mack	Captain of H.M.S. Sturgeon 30 Nov, 1917 – 3 Feb, 1919	Succeeded by Frederick H. G. Dalrymple-Hamilton
Preceded by Frederick H. G. Dalrymple-Hamilton	Captain of H.M.S. Murray 3 Feb, 1919 – 15 Feb, 1919	Succeeded by James C. Collie
Preceded by Brian C. Gourley	Captain of H.M.S. Seabear 15 Feb, 1919 – 1 Feb, 1920	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Edward O. Broadley	Captain of H.M.S. Vanessa 1 Feb, 1920 – 18 Jan, 1921	Succeeded by Norman A. G. Ohlenschlager
Preceded by Thomas C. C. Bolster	Captain of H.M.S. Volunteer 1 Apr, 1926 – 2 May, 1928	Succeeded by Edward N. Syfret
Preceded by Thomas C. C. Bolster	Captain of H.M.S. Winchester 23 Mar, 1931 – 27 Feb, 1932	Succeeded by Francis Howard
Preceded by John K. Laird	Senior Naval Officer and D.N.T.O., Aberdeen 28 Aug, 1938 – 6 Nov, 1939	Succeeded by Edwin M. Palmer