Leslie Mungavin | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Leslie Norman Mungavin |
| Nicknames | Jack Munga Khan |
| Born | (1925-03-22)22 March 1925 |
| Died | 1995 (aged 69–70) Wandsworth, London, England[2] |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  British India(1945-47) Pakistan(1947-78) |
| Branch |  Royal Indian Navy Pakistan Navy |
| Service years | 1945–1980 |
| Rank |   Rear Admiral |
| Service number | PN No. 282: 293 [3] |
| Unit | Naval Operations Branch |
| Commands | Vice Chief of Naval Staff Naval attaché,Pakistan Embassy, London CmdntPakistan Marines |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards | _(1957-86).png) Sitara-e-Pakistan_(1957-86).png) Sitara-i-Khidmat Sitara-e-Basalat |
| Spouse | Joy Beatrix |
| Relations | George Mungavin (father) |
| Other work | ChairmanPakistan National Shipping Corporation |
Leslie Norman MungavinSPk,SK,SBt (22 March 1925 – 1995), known as"Jack" was atwo-star rankadmiral in the Pakistan Navy, anddefence diplomat. He is widely known for voluntarily leaving his diplomatic post inLondon to command combat units during the1971 war with India.[4][5]
He also served asVice Chief of the Naval Staff from 1975 until 1977, with a two-star rank despite the position is required an admiral to be promoted in three-star rank, theVice-Admiral.: 354 [6]
Leslie Norman Mungavin was born in Bombay (nowMumbai) on 22 March 1925 into a family ofIrish descent.[7] His great great grandfather, James Mungavin, was born inCastleconnel, Ireland and is said to have emigrated fromCounty Clare toIndia in 1825 to work on the railways during British colonial rule.[8] His son, James St. John Mungavin, joined theBritish Indian Army. The Mungavin family settled in theBritish Raj and became part of theAnglo-IndianChristian community.[9]
Leslie’s father is believed to have been George Leslie Coltman Mungavin, who continued in the railway service.[10][11] Leslie was one of seven siblings.[12] After thePartition of India in 1947, his family members emigrated back to theUnited Kingdom. Leslie, however, chose to remain and joined the newly formedPakistan Navy.[13]
Leslie Mungavin joined theRoyal Indian Navy in 1945 and transferred to thePakistan Navy after thepartition in 1947, where his career in the navy progressed well till his retirement asVIce Chief of Naval Staff at the rank of Rear Admiral.[14] He specialized innavigation at the training establishmentHMS Dryad in theUnited Kingdom.: 425–426 [4][15] In 1950s, he commandedPNS Alamgir and the Pakistan Navy flagshipPNS Babur.[14]
In 1964,Commander Mungavin was thecommanding officer of PNSBabur, and participated in thesecond war with India in 1965.[16] In 1970,Cdre. Mungavin was posted asMilitary andNaval Attaché at theHigh Commission of Pakistan inLondon, where his services and negotiation skills merited him aSitara-e-Pakistan award.[14]: 249 [17] Cdre. Mungavin left his assignment, only to be promoted asRear-Admiral, and took up the command asCommandant of thePakistan Marines which he led in theWestern Front of the Indo-Pakistani war against India in 1971.: 427–428 [4][5] Furthermore, he was noted for his skills in negotiation which earned him to be decorated as and merited him with aSitara-e-Pakistan.[14] Mungavin was praised for his impressive adaptability.[18]
During the 1971 war, Mungavin oversaw the deployment of thePakistan Marines in both East andWest Pakistan, including riverine and coastal defence operations to counter theIndian Army inChittagong andKhulna.[19] Under his leadership marines operatedgunboats andamphibious vehicles although they suffered losses due to Indian air and naval superiority.[20] Mungavin was captured at theliberation of Chittagong and held as a prisoner of war until repatriation.[21] Mungavin was awarded theSitara-e-Basalat for his valor in the 1971 war.[22]
In the 1970s, he was elevated as the vice chief of naval staff from 1975 until 1977, with a two-star rank despite the position is required an admiral to be promoted in three-star rank, theVice-Admiral.: 234 [23]: 354 [6] In the 1980s, Rear Admiral Mungavin was also involved with the negotiations with theUS Department of State when the Pakistan Navy was interested in replacing their aging fleet withGearing-class destroyers.[24] From January 1979 to April 1980 he served as the Chairman of the Board of thePakistan National Shipping Corporation.: 188 [25]
Admiral Mungavin died in 1995 inEngland. At his request, his body wascremated, ashes were taken back to Pakistan and spread in theArabian Sea. The Pakistan Navy honored him with a fullmilitary funeral, and his ashes were taken out to sea on board thePNS Babur and scattered there.[14]
Chiefs of Naval Staff of thePakistan Navy | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commander-in-Chief (Two-to-three-star admirals) |  | |
| Chiefs of Naval Staff (Four-star admiral) | ||
| Vice Chiefs of Naval Staff | ||