Air Vice-Marshal Sir Paul (Copeland) Maltby

Air Vice-Marshal Sir Paul (Copeland) Maltby (KCVO, KBE, CB, DSO, RFC, RAF) was a regular British airforce officer, born on 5 August 1892, the second son of Christopher James Maltby of Felmersham, Bedfordshire.

Maltby was educated at Bedford School, Royal Military College at Sandhurst and gazetted to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, serving in India in 1911-1914. He transferred in 1915 to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), Distinguished Service Order (DSO) awarded in 1917, serving in Western Europe until the end of World War One in 1919.

He married Winfred Russell, daughter of J.H. Patterson residing at 6 Morey Place, Edinburgh, in 1921 and they had two sons, the eldest killed in action in 1945, and one daughter. He was with the RAF in India between 1919-1924, attended the RAF Staff College in 1926, and the Imperial Defence College in 1931.

He was Commandant of Central Flying School in 1932-1934, Air Officer Commanding RAF in the Mediterranean in 1935-1938, ir Officer Commanding 24th Training Group in 1938-1940 and Commander of 71st Army Cooperation Group in 1940-1941. He was for a short period, 11 to 14 February 1942, Air Officer Commanding Far East Air Force after which the command was disbanded

He was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1941.

Later he was Assistant AOC Far East Command and Air Officer Commanding RAF in Java (1942) then assisted Air Officer Commanding Far East RAF Command. He was awarded the Grand Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau from the Netherlands.

He was a prisoner of war from 1942 to 1945.

He retired from RAF in 1946 and created Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire (KBE). Appointed Sergeant-at-Arms, House of Lords in 1946-1962. He was also Deputy-Lieutenant of Southampton in 1956 and received the title Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), created in 1962.

He died on 2 July 1971.