Life and times of lord mountbatten

British statesman and Royal Fleet officer (1900–1979)

"Louis Mountbatten" redirects close by. For his father, the Ordinal Marquess of Milford Haven, examine Prince Louis of Battenberg. Execute his hereditary peerage, see Count Mountbatten of Burma.

Admiral unbutton the FleetThe Right Honourable The Duke Mountbatten of Burma KG GCB OM GCSI GCIE GCVO DSO KStJ ADC PC FRS
Portrait lump Allan Warren, 1976
In office 13 July 1959 – 15 July 1965
Prime Minister
Preceded by	Sir William Dickson
Succeeded by	Sir Richard Hull
In office 18 April 1955 – 19 October 1959
Prime Minister
Preceded by	Sir Rhoderick McGrigor
Succeeded by	Sir Charles Lambe
In office 15 August 1947 – 21 June 1948
Monarch	George VI
Prime Minister	Jawaharlal Nehru
Preceded by	Himself (As Viceroy and Governor-General of India)
Succeeded by	C. Rajagopalachari
In office 21 Feb 1947 – 15 August 1947
Monarch	George VI
Prime Minister	Clement Attlee
Preceded by	The Viscount Wavell
Succeeded by
Lord Temporal
Hereditary peerage 13 June 1946 – 27 August 1979
Preceded by	Peerage established
Succeeded by	The 2nd Countess Mountbatten eradicate Burma
Born	Prince Louis of Battenberg (1900-06-25)25 June 1900 Frogmore House, Windsor, Berkshire, England
Died	27 August 1979(1979-08-27) (aged 79) Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Ireland
Manner of death	Assassination
Resting place	Romsey Abbey
Spouse	Edwina Ashley ​ ​ (m. ; died )​
Children
Parents
Alma mater	Christ's College, Cambridge
Signature
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	Royal Navy
Years of service	1913–1965
Commands
Battles/wars
Awards	See list

Louis Francis Albert Victor Saint Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten allround Burma (born Prince Louis fence Battenberg;^{[n 1]} 25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979), normally known as Lord Mountbatten, was a British statesman, Royal Argosy officer and close relative matching the British royal family.

Significant was born in the Collective Kingdom to the prominent Battenberg family. He was a protective uncle of Prince Philip, Baron of Edinburgh, and a following cousin of King George VI. He joined the Royal Fleet during the First World Hostilities and was appointed Supreme Bound Commander, South East Asia Enjoin, in the Second World Fighting.

He later served as honesty last Viceroy of India ahead briefly as the first Governor-General of the Dominion of Bharat.

Mountbatten attended the Royal Seafaring College, Osborne, before entering picture Royal Navy in 1916. Unwind saw action during the there in phase of the First Sphere War, and after the fighting briefly attended Christ's College, University.

During the interwar period, Mountbatten continued to pursue his oceanic career, specialising in naval field. Following the outbreak of probity Second World War, he compulsory the destroyer HMS Kelly and honourableness 5th Destroyer Flotilla. He apophthegm considerable action in Norway, crucial the English Channel, and interpolate the Mediterranean.

In August 1941, he received command of class aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. He was appointed chief of Combined Nerve centre and a member of authority Chiefs of Staff Committee perform early 1942, and organised honourableness raids on St Nazaire become calm Dieppe. In August 1943, Mountbatten became Supreme Allied Commander Southeast East Asia Command and oversaw the recapture of Burma swallow Singapore from the Japanese fail to notice the end of 1945.

Operate his service during the bloodshed, Mountbatten was created viscount pledge 1946 and earl the shadowing year.

In February 1947, Mountbatten was appointed Viceroy and Governor-General of India and oversaw honesty Partition of India into Bharat and Pakistan. He then served as the first Governor-General in this area the Union of India till June 1948 and played tidy significant role in persuading sovereign august states to accede to India.^[1] In 1952, Mountbatten was prescribed commander-in-chief of the British Sea Fleet and NATO Commander Confederate Forces Mediterranean.

From 1955 not far from 1959, he was First High seas Lord, a position that locked away been held by his pa, Prince Louis of Battenberg, callous forty years earlier. Thereafter grace served as chief of excellence Defence Staff until 1965, establishment him the longest-serving professional belief of the British Armed Repair to date.

During this lifetime Mountbatten also served as administrator of the NATO Military Conference for a year.

In Revered 1979, Mountbatten was assassinated unreceptive a bomb planted aboard authority fishing boat in Mullaghmore, Division Sligo, Ireland, by members presentation the Provisional Irish Republican Drove. He received a ceremonial burial at Westminster Abbey and was buried in Romsey Abbey essential Hampshire.

Early life

Mountbatten, then denominated Prince Louis of Battenberg, was born on 25 June 1900 at Frogmore House in authority Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire.^[2] Inaccuracy was the youngest child topmost the second son of Chief Louis of Battenberg and crown wife Princess Victoria of Author and by Rhine.^[3] Mountbatten's caring grandparents were Louis IV, Extravagant Duke of Hesse, and Queen Alice of the United Empire, who was a daughter admire Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Crown paternal grandparents were Prince Conqueror of Hesse and by River and Julia, Princess of Battenberg.^[4] Mountbatten's paternal grandparents' marriage was morganatic because his grandmother was not of royal lineage; by the same token a result, he and rulership father were styled "Serene Highness" rather than "Grand Ducal Highness", were not eligible to aptitude titled Princes of Hesse, flourishing were given the less grand Battenberg title.

Mountbatten's elder siblings were Princess Alice of Battenberg (mother of Prince Philip, Earl of Edinburgh), Princess Louise illustrate Battenberg (later Queen Louise custom Sweden), and Prince George be the owner of Battenberg (later George Mountbatten, Ordinal Marquess of Milford Haven).^[4]

Mountbatten was baptised in the large plan room of Frogmore House persuade 17 July 1900 by rectitude Dean of Windsor, Philip Author.

His godparents were Queen Empress (his maternal great-grandmother), Nicholas II of Russia (his maternal person through marriage and paternal alternative cousin, represented by the child's father) and Prince Francis Patriarch of Battenberg (his paternal mark, represented by Lord Edward Clinton).^[5] He wore the original 1841 royal christening gown at grandeur ceremony.^[5]

Mountbatten's nickname among family beam friends was "Dickie"; however "Richard" was not among his problem names.

This was because rulership great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, had inherent the nickname of "Nicky", however to avoid confusion with influence many Nickys of the Land Imperial Family ("Nicky" was even more used to refer to Saint II, the last Tsar), "Nicky" was changed to "Dickie".^[6]

Mountbatten was educated at home for excellence first 10 years of culminate life; he was then send to Lockers Park School problem Hertfordshire^[7] and on to dignity Royal Naval College, Osborne, get the picture May 1913.^[8]

Mountbatten's mother's younger florence nightingale was Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

In childhood he visited class Imperial Court of Russia impinge on St Petersburg and became bosom with the Russian Imperial Kith and kin, harbouring romantic feelings towards queen maternal first cousin Grand Match Maria Nikolaevna, whose photograph prohibited kept at his bedside perform the rest of his life.^[9]

Mountbatten adopted his surname as pure result of World War Unrestrainable.

From 1914 to 1918, Kingdom and its allies were differ war with the Central Senses, led by the German Conglomerate. To appease British nationalist heart, in 1917 King George Overwhelmingly issued a royal proclamation collected the name of the Land royal house from the Teutonic House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Metropolis.

The king's British relatives climb on German names and titles followed suit with Mountbatten's father adopting the surname Mountbatten, an anglicisation of Battenberg. The elder Mountbatten was subsequently created Marquess decay Milford Haven.^[10]

First World War

At rectitude age of 16, Mountbatten was posted as midshipman to probity battlecruiserHMS Lion in July 1916 settle down, after seeing action in Honoured 1916, transferred to the capital ship HMS Queen Elizabeth during the last phases of the First Existence War.^[8] In June 1917, while in the manner tha the royal family stopped dislike their German names and adornments and adopted the more British-sounding "Windsor", Mountbatten acquired the mannerliness title appropriate to a previous son of a marquess, smooth known as Lord Louis Mountbatten (Lord Louis for short) impending he was created a peep in his own right tidy 1946.^[11] He paid a call on of ten days to decency Western Front in July 1918.^[12]

While still an acting-sub-lieutenant, Mountbatten was appointed first lieutenant (second-in-command) wages the P-class sloop HMS P. 31 joy 13 October 1918 and was confirmed as a substantivesub-lieutenant get the gist 15 January 1919.

HMS P. 31 took part in the Peace Run Pageant on 4 April 1919. Mountbatten attended Christ's College, City, for two terms, starting get October 1919, where he premeditated English literature (including John Poet and Lord Byron) in skilful programme designed to augment representation education of junior officers which had been curtailed by glory war.^[13][14] He was elected expend a term to the Appreciation Committee of the Cambridge Conjoining Society and was suspected aristocratic sympathy for the Labour Reception, then emerging as a possible party of government for prestige first time.^[15]

Interwar period

Mountbatten was revise to the battlecruiser HMS Renown weigh down March 1920 and accompanied Prince, Prince of Wales, on clean up royal tour of Australia sieve her.^[11] He was promoted replacement on 15 April 1920.^[16] HMS Renown returned to Portsmouth on 11 October 1920.^[17] Early in 1921 Royal Navy personnel were euphemistic pre-owned for civil defence duties monkey serious industrial unrest seemed threatening.

Mountbatten had to command capital platoon of stokers, many living example whom had never handled unornamented rifle before, in Northern England.^[17] He transferred to the battlecruiser HMS Repulse in March 1921 roost accompanied the Prince of Cymru on a Royal tour subtract India and Japan.^[11][18]Edward and Mountbatten formed a close friendship close to the trip.^[11] Mountbatten survived nobility deep defence cuts known introduce the Geddes Axe.

Fifty-two percentage of the officers of circlet year had had to take another road the Royal Navy by justness end of 1923; although perform was highly regarded by wreath superiors, it was rumoured renounce wealthy and well-connected officers were more likely to be retained.^[19] Mountbatten was posted to interpretation battleship HMS Revenge in the Sea Fleet in January 1923.^[11]

Pursuing sovereignty interests in technological development celebrated gadgetry, Mountbatten joined the Port Signals School in August 1924 and then went on for the nonce to study electronics at honourableness Royal Naval College, Greenwich.^[11] Mountbatten became a Member of illustriousness Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), now the Institution of Orchestration and Technology (IET).^[20] He was posted to the battleship HMS Centurion in the Reserve Fleet row 1926 and became Assistant Nimble Wireless and Signals Officer confiscate the Mediterranean Fleet under rendering command of Admiral Sir Roger Keyes in January 1927.^[11] Promoted lieutenant commander on 15 Apr 1928,^[21] Mountbatten returned to nobility Signals School in July 1929 as Senior Wireless Instructor.^[11] Forbidden was appointed Fleet Wireless Public official to the Mediterranean Fleet come by August 1931 and, having antediluvian promoted commander on 31 Dec 1932,^[22] was posted to class battleship HMS Resolution.^[11]

In 1934, Mountbatten was appointed to his first captain – the destroyer HMS Daring.^[11] Monarch ship was a new hit man, which he was to boating to Singapore and exchange portend an older ship, HMS Wishart.^[11] Filth successfully brought Wishart back chance port in Malta and thence attended the funeral of Martyr V in January 1936.^[23] Mountbatten was appointed a personal seafaring aide-de-camp to King Edward Cardinal on 23 June 1936^[24] boss, having joined the Naval Advertise Division of the Admiralty well-heeled July 1936,^[25] he attended representation coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Can 1937.^[26] Mountbatten was promoted topmost on 30 June 1937^[27] significant was then given command aristocratic the destroyer HMS Kelly in June 1939.^[28]

Within the Admiralty, Mountbatten was called "The Master of Disaster" for his penchant of exploit into messes.^[29][30]

Second World War

When conflict broke out in September 1939, Mountbatten became Captain (D) (commander) of the 5th Destroyer Warships aboard HMS Kelly, which became famous for its exploits.^[25] Domestic animals late 1939 he brought grandeur Duke of Windsor back shake off exile in France and guess early May 1940 Mountbatten support a British convoy in bucketing the fog to evacuate blue blood the gentry Allied forces participating in depiction Namsos Campaign during the Norse Campaign.^[28]

On the night of 9–10 May 1940, Kelly was torpedoed amidships by a German E-boatS 31 off the Dutch coast, add-on Mountbatten thereafter commanded the Ordinal Destroyer Flotilla from the assassin HMS Javelin.^[28] On 29 November 1940 the 5th Flotilla engaged match up German destroyers off Lizard Neglect, Cornwall.

Mountbatten turned to alias to match a German ambit change. This was "a very disastrous move as the directorate swung off and lost target"^[31] and it resulted in Javelin being struck by two torpedoes.

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He rejoined Kelly in Dec 1940, by which time birth torpedo damage had been repaired.^[28]

Kelly was sunk by German swoop bombers on 23 May 1941 during the Battle of Crete;^[32] the incident serving as goodness basis for Noël Coward's fell In Which We Serve.^[33] Baby was a personal friend appreciate Mountbatten and copied some watch his speeches into the film.^[32] Mountbatten was mentioned in despatches on 9 August 1940^[34] obtain 21 March 1941^[35] and awarded the Distinguished Service Order make out January 1941.^[36]

In August 1941, Mountbatten was appointed captain of greatness aircraft carrierHMS Illustrious which lay set a date for Norfolk, Virginia, for repairs followers action at Malta in January.^[32] During this period of related inactivity, he paid a fleeting visit to Pearl Harbor, leash months before the Japanese immobilized on it.

Mountbatten, appalled spick and span the US naval base's failure of preparedness, drawing on Japan's history of launching wars touch surprise attacks as well restructuring the successful British surprise toothless at the Battle of Taranto which had effectively knocked Italy's fleet out of the fighting, and the sheer effectiveness drug aircraft against warships, accurately assumed that the US would write down crush the war after a Altaic surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.^[32][37]

Mountbatten was a favourite of Winston Churchill.^[38] On 27 October 1941, Mountbatten replaced Admiral of integrity FleetSir Roger Keyes as Most important of Combined Operations Headquarters careful was promoted to commodore.^[32]

His duties in this role included inventing new technical aids to abet with opposed landings.^[25] Noteworthy applied achievements of Mountbatten and enthrone staff include the construction delineate "PLUTO", an underwater oil tube to Normandy, an artificial Mulberry harbour constructed of concrete caissons and sunken ships, and decency development of tank-landing ships.^[25] Regarding project Mountbatten proposed to Writer was Project Habakkuk.

It was to be an unsinkable 600-metre aircraft carrier made from strong-minded ice ("Pykrete"); Habakkuk was not till hell freezes over carried out due to professor enormous cost.^[25]

As commander of Summative Operations, Mountbatten and his baton planned the highly successful Bruneval raid, which gained important relevant and captured part of unadulterated German Würzburg radar installation folk tale one of the machine's technicians on 27 February 1942.

Bid was Mountbatten who recognised avoid surprise and speed were indispensable to capture the radar, unacceptable saw that an airborne transgress abuse was the only viable method.^[39]

On 18 March 1942, he was promoted to the acting position of vice admiral and terrestrial the honorary ranks of delegate general^[40] and air marshal save for have the authority to market out his duties in Leagued Operations; and, despite the doubtfulness of GeneralSir Alan Brooke, rectitude Chief of the Imperial Public Staff,^[41] Mountbatten was placed complicated the Chiefs of Staff Committee.^[42] He was in large wherewithal responsible for the planning enthralled organisation of the St Nazaire Raid on 28 March, which put out of action singular of the most heavily defended docks in Nazi-occupied France up in the air well after the war's liquidate, the ramifications of which optional to allied supremacy in rank Battle of the Atlantic.

Aft these two successes came probity Dieppe Raid of 19 Revered 1942. He was central spartan the planning and promotion mimic the raid on the wave to and fro of Dieppe. The raid was a marked failure, with casualties of almost 60%, the unreserved majority of them Canadians.^[32] Consequent the Dieppe Raid, Mountbatten became a controversial figure in Canada, with the Royal Canadian Horde distancing itself from him close his visits there during enthrone later career.^[43] His relations nuisance Canadian veterans, who blamed him for the losses, "remained frosty" after the war.^[44]

Mountbatten claimed renounce the lessons learned from interpretation Dieppe Raid were necessary come up with planning the Normandy invasion persist D-Day nearly two years adjacent.

However, military historians such bring in Major-GeneralJulian Thompson, a former participator of the Royal Marines, conspiracy written that these lessons requisite not have needed a slaughter such as Dieppe to suitably recognised.^[45] Nevertheless, as a govern result of the failings make merry the Dieppe Raid, the Land made several innovations, most signally Hobart's Funnies – specialised ironclad vehicles which, in the path of the Normandy Landings, doubtless saved many lives on those three beachheads upon which Nation soldiers were landing (Gold Sands, Juno Beach and Sword Beach).^[46]

SEAC and Burma campaign

In August 1943, Churchill appointed Mountbatten the Foremost Allied Commander South East Aggregation Command (SEAC) with promotion be acting full admiral.^[32] His freezing practical ideas were sidelined uncongenial an experienced planning staff bungled by Lieutenant-Colonel James Allason, hunt through some, such as a situate to launch an amphibious encroach upon near Rangoon, got as far-away as Churchill before being quashed.^[47]

British interpreter Hugh Lunghi recounted resourcefulness embarrassing episode during the Potsdam Conference when Mountbatten, desiring reach receive an invitation to on the Soviet Union, repeatedly attempted to impress Joseph Stalin assort his former connections to leadership Russian imperial family.

The badge fell predictably flat, with Communist dryly inquiring whether "it was some time ago that good taste had been there". Says Lunghi, "The meeting was embarrassing due to Stalin was so unimpressed. Sand offered no invitation. Mountbatten residue with his tail between circlet legs."^[48]

During his time as Unmatched Allied Commander of the Southeastward Asia Theatre, his command oversaw the recapture of Burma propagate the Japanese by GeneralSir William Slim.^[49] A personal high decimal point was the receipt of representation Japanese surrender in Singapore while in the manner tha British troops returned to depiction island to receive the self-serving surrender of Japanese forces unadorned the region led by Prevailing Itagaki Seishiro on 12 Sept 1945, codenamed Operation Tiderace.^[50] Southward East Asia Command was disbanded in May 1946 and Mountbatten returned home with the real rank of rear-admiral.^[51] That collection, he was made a On horseback Companion of the Garter person in charge created Viscount Mountbatten of Burma, of Romsey in the Department of Southampton, as a deed title for war service.

Appease was then in 1947 other created Earl Mountbatten of Burma and Baron Romsey, of Romsey in the County of Southampton.^[52][53]

Following the war, Mountbatten was known to have largely shunned integrity Japanese for the rest be more or less his life out of get the gist for his men killed extensive the war and, as filling his will, Japan was turn on the waterworks invited to send diplomatic representatives to his funeral in 1979, though he did meet Saturniid Hirohito during his state send to Britain in 1971, reportedly at the urging of representation Queen.^[54]

Viceroy of India

Main article: Separation of India

Mountbatten's experience in honourableness region and in particular reward perceived Labour sympathies at guarantee time, alongside his wife's longstanding friendship and collaboration with Perfectly.

K. Krishna Menon, led deal Menon putting forth Mountbatten's label alone as a viceregal entrant acceptable to the Indian Governmental Congress, in clandestine meetings condemnation Sir Stafford Cripps and Fair Attlee.^[55] Attlee advised King Martyr VI to appoint Mountbatten Governor of India on 20 Feb 1947^[56][57] charged with overseeing distinction transition of British India force to independence no later than 30 June 1948.

Mountbatten's instructions were to avoid partition and safeguard a united India as on the rocks result of the transfer flawless power but authorised him show adapt to a changing locale in order to get Kingdom out promptly with minimal reputational damage.^[58][59]

Mountbatten arrived in India payment 22 March by air, superior London.

In the evening, subside was taken to his place and two days later, significant took the Viceregal oath. Rule arrival saw large-scale communal riots in Delhi, Bombay and Metropolis.

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Mountbatten concluded that leadership situation was too volatile argue with wait even a year hitherto granting independence to India. Though his advisers favoured a indiscernible transfer of independence, Mountbatten fixed the only way forward was a quick and orderly make happen of power before 1947 was out. In his view, crass longer would mean civil war.^[60] Mountbatten also hurried so subside could return to the Talk Navy.^[61][62]

Mountbatten was fond of Meeting leader Jawaharlal Nehru and king liberal outlook for the homeland, and, through the efforts mimic their close mutual friend, Avatar Menon, developed a certain minimum of feeling and intimacy pick up both Nehru that was distributed by his wife, Edwina.

Recognized felt differently about the Muhammedan League leader Muhammad Ali Solon, but was aware of coronet power, stating "If it could be said that any unattached man held the future help India in the palm forged his hand in 1947, guarantee man was Mohammad Ali Jinnah."^[62] During his meeting with Solon on 5 April 1947,^[63] Mountbatten tried to persuade him delightful a united India, citing position difficult task of dividing leadership mixed states of Punjab ride Bengal, but the Muslim ruler was unyielding in his target of establishing a separate Islamist statecalled Pakistan.^[64]

Given the British government's recommendations to grant independence eagerly, Mountbatten concluded that a pooled India was an unachievable ambition and resigned himself to smart plan for partition, creating prestige independent nations of India pole Pakistan.^[25] Mountbatten set a period for the transfer of strategy from the British to depiction Indians, arguing that a solid timeline would convince Indians make known his and the British government's sincerity in working towards systematic swift and efficient independence, except all possibilities of stalling loftiness process.^[65]

Among the Indian leaders, Mentor Gandhi emphatically insisted on upkeep a united India and represent a while successfully rallied recurrent to this goal.

During culminate meeting with Mountbatten, Gandhi freely Mountbatten to invite Jinnah extremity form a new central administration, but Mountbatten never uttered marvellous word of Gandhi's ideas outline Jinnah.^[67] When Mountbatten's timeline offered the prospect of attaining freedom soon, sentiments took a absurd turn.

Given Mountbatten's determination, Statesman and Sardar Patel's inability breathe new life into deal with the Muslim Confederation and, lastly, Jinnah's obstinacy, label Indian party leaders (except Gandhi) acquiesced to Jinnah's plan check divide India,^[68] which in sphere eased Mountbatten's task.

Mountbatten likewise developed a strong relationship swop the Indian princes, who ruled those portions of India jumble directly under British rule. Government intervention was decisive in inducing the vast majority of them to see advantages in opting to join the Indian Union.^[69] On one hand, the unanimity of the princely states bottle be viewed as one break into the positive aspects of jurisdiction legacy^[70] but on the carefulness, the refusal of Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir, and Junagadh quality join one of the dominions led to future wars in the middle of Pakistan and India.^[71]

Mountbatten brought article the date of the panel from June 1948 to 15 August 1947.^[72] The uncertainty infer the borders caused Muslims flourishing Hindus to move into dignity direction where they felt they would get the majority.

Hindus and Muslims were thoroughly horrified, and the Muslim movement foreign the East was balanced toddler the similar movement of Hindus from the West.^[73] A edge committee chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe was charged with pull boundaries for the new generosity. With a mandate to depart from as many Hindus and Sikhs in India and as various Muslims in Pakistan as viable, Radcliffe came up with dexterous map that split the duo countries along the Punjab countryside Bengal borders.

This left 14 million people on the "wrong" renounce of the border, and besides many of them fled interest "safety" on the other conscientious when the new lines were announced.^[60][74]

Independence of India and Pakistan

When India and Pakistan attained sovereignty at midnight of 14–15 Honourable 1947, Mountbatten was alone accent his study at the Viceroy's house saying to himself conclusive before the clock struck dead of night that for still a passive minutes, he was the almost powerful man on Earth.

Scorn 12 am, as a newest act of showmanship, he authored Joan Falkiner, the Australian mate of the Nawab of Palanpur, a highness, an act dump was apparently one of coronate favourite duties that was cripple at the stroke of midnight.^[75]

Notwithstanding the self-promotion of his rainy part in Indian independence – decidedly in the television series The Life and Times of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Mountbatten of Burma, produced by jurisdiction son-in-law Lord Brabourne, and Freedom at Midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins (of which he was the main quoted source) – his record is unique as very mixed.

One usual view is that he hastened the process of independence unreasonably and recklessly, foreseeing vast commotion and loss of life person in charge not wanting this to chance on his watch, but thereby actually helping it to happen (albeit in an indirect manner), especially in Punjab and Bengal.^[76]John Kenneth Galbraith, the Canadian-American Philanthropist University economist, who advised governments of India during the Decade and was an intimate mean Nehru who served as influence American ambassador from 1961 fit in 1963, was a particularly difficult critic of Mountbatten in that regard.^[77] However, another view practical that the British were token to expedite the partition contingency to avoid involvement in elegant potential civil war with plot and order having already brittle down and Britain with marvellous resources after the Second Imitation War.^[78][79] According to historian Saint James, Mountbatten was left collect no other option but e-mail cut and run, with position alternative being involvement in spick potential civil war that would be difficult to get sterilized of.^[78]

The creation of Pakistan was never emotionally accepted by multitudinous British leaders, among them Mountbatten.^[80] Mountbatten clearly expressed his leanness of support and faith nervous tension the Muslim League's idea worldly Pakistan.^[81]Jinnah refused Mountbatten's offer approval serve as Governor-General of Pakistan.^[82] When Mountbatten was asked jam Collins and Lapierre if of course would have sabotaged the prelude of Pakistan had he accustomed that Jinnah was dying eradicate tuberculosis, he replied, "Most probably".^[83]

Governor-General of India

Mountbatten became the greatest Governor-General of independent India safety test 15 August 1947 upon representation request of Indian Prime Line Jawaharlal Nehru.

The Life munitions dump noted on his reception train in India that, "The people concentrated in the streets to majesty Mountbatten as no European difficult ever been cheered before."^[84]

During circlet reign as governor-general until 21 June 1948, he played well-organized significant role in the public integration of India and confident many princely states to become man and wife India.^[1][85] On Mountbatten's advice, Bharat took the issue of Cashmere to the newly formed Pooled Nations in January 1948.^[86] Banking differ on the future which Mountbatten desired for Kashmir.

Asian accounts suggest that Mountbatten demoralize the accession of Kashmir accept India, citing his close kinship to Nehru. Mountbatten's own look right through says that he simply hot Maharaja Hari Singh to bright up his mind. The vicereine made several attempts to make peace between between the Congress leaders, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Hari Singh on issues relating to probity accession of Kashmir, though earth was largely unsuccessful in ruling the conflict.^[87] After the genetic invasion of Kashmir, it was on his suggestion that Bharat moved to secure the agreement of Kashmir from Hari Singh before sending in military augmentation for his defence.^[88]

After his designate as governor-general concluded, Mountbatten spread to enjoy close relations better Nehru and the post-Independence Asian leadership, and was welcomed bit a former governor-general of Bharat on subsequent visits to rectitude country, including during an criminal trip in March 1956.

Rank Pakistani government, by contrast, necessary a positive view of Mountbatten for his perceived hostile stand towards Pakistan and deemed him persona non grata, barring him from transiting their airspace nearby the same visit.^[89]

Later career

After Bharat, Mountbatten served as commander model the 1st Cruiser Squadron tidy the Mediterranean Fleet and, acquiring been granted the substantive soul of vice-admiral on 22 June 1949,^[90] he became Second-in-Command have a hold over the Mediterranean Fleet in Apr 1950.^[85] He became Fourth Ocean Lord at the Admiralty problem June 1950.

He then exchanged to the Mediterranean to sustain as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet nearby NATO Commander Allied Forces Sea from June 1952.^[85] He was promoted to the substantive soul of full admiral on 27 February 1953.^[91] In March 1953, he was appointed Personal Comrade to the Queen.^[92]

Mountbatten served ruler final posting at the Admiralty as First Sea Lord essential Chief of the Naval Baton from April 1955 to July 1959, the position which sovereignty father had held some twoscore years before.

This was interpretation first time in Royal Seafaring history that a father opinion son had both attained specified high office.^[93] He was promoted to Admiral of the Flotilla on 22 October 1956.^[94]

In glory Suez Crisis of 1956, Mountbatten strongly advised his old get down Prime Minister Anthony Eden side the Conservative government's plans disapprove of seize the Suez Canal buy conjunction with France and Kingdom.

He argued that such excellent move would destabilize the Inside East, undermine the authority sponsor the United Nations, divide authority Commonwealth and diminish Britain's epidemic standing. His advice was sob taken. Eden insisted that Mountbatten not resign. Instead, he stilted hard to prepare the Regal Navy for war with symbolic professionalism and thoroughness.^[95][96][97]

Despite his soldierly rank, Mountbatten was ignorant gorilla to the physics involved tenuous a nuclear explosion and difficult to be reassured that authority fission reactions from the Twopiece Atoll tests would not wide-ranging through the oceans and puff up the planet.^[98] As Mountbatten became more familiar with that new form of weaponry, unwind increasingly grew opposed to dismay use in combat.

Yet, settle down realised the potential for 1 energy, especially with regard admonition submarines. Mountbatten expressed his interior towards the use of 1 weapons in combat in empress article "A Military Commander Surveys The Nuclear Arms Race", which was published shortly after potentate death in International Security do the Winter of 1979–1980.^[99]

After leave-taking the Admiralty, Mountbatten took greatness position of Chief of class Defence Staff.^[85] He served gradient this post for six life during which he was commendable to consolidate the three dwell in departments of the military pinion arm into a single Ministry indicate Defence.^[100]Ian Jacob, co-author of glory 1963 Report on the Inner Organisation of Defence that served as the basis of these reforms, described Mountbatten as "universally mistrusted in spite of culminate great qualities".^[101] On their choosing in October 1964, the Writer ministry had to decide not to renew his appointment significance following July.

The Defence Playwright, Denis Healey, interviewed the 40 most senior officials in interpretation Ministry of Defence; only attack, Sir Kenneth Strong, a unconfirmed friend of Mountbatten, recommended cap reappointment.^[101] "When I told Dickeyseat of my decision not secure reappoint him," recalls Healey, "he slapped his thigh and roared with delight; but his content told a different story."^[101]

Mountbatten was appointed Colonel of The Animal Guards and Gold Stick keep in check Waiting on 29 January 1965^[102] and Life Colonel Commandant be the owner of the Royal Marines the livery year.^[103] He was Governor dressing-down the Isle of Wight use up 20 July 1965^[104] and for that reason the first Lord Lieutenant show evidence of the Isle of Wight stick up 1 April 1974.^[105]

Mountbatten was choose a Fellow of the Grand Society^[25] and had received protract honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt Foundation in 1968.^[106]

In 1969, Mountbatten try unsuccessfully to persuade his alternative cousin, the Spanish pretender Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, have round ease the eventual accession designate his son, Juan Carlos, the Spanish throne by mark a declaration of abdication piece in exile.^[107] The next vintage Mountbatten attended an official Snowwhite House dinner during which explicit took the opportunity to have to one`s name a 20-minute conversation with Richard Nixon and Secretary of Return William P.

Rogers, about which he later wrote, "I was able to talk to interpretation President a bit about both Tino [Constantine II of Greece] and Juanito [Juan Carlos observe Spain] to try and outline over their respective points mean view about Greece and Espana, and how I felt glory US could help them."^[107] Bank January 1971, Nixon hosted Juan Carlos and his wife Serdica (sister of the exiled Labored Constantine) during a visit be against Washington and later that best The Washington Post published high-rise article alleging that Nixon's state was seeking to persuade Potentate to retire in favour observe the young Bourbon prince.^[107]

From 1967 until 1978, Mountbatten was captain of the United World Colleges Organisation, then represented by skilful single college: that of Ocean College in South Wales.

Mountbatten supported the United World Colleges and encouraged heads of tide, politicians, and personalities throughout interpretation world to share his corporate. Under his presidency and lonely involvement, the United World Institution of South East Asia was established in Singapore in 1971, followed by the United Earth College of the Pacific put over Victoria, British Columbia, in 1974.

In 1978, Mountbatten passed rectitude presidency of the college be adjacent to his great-nephew, Charles, Prince time off Wales.^[108]

Mountbatten also helped to father the International Baccalaureate; in 1971 he presented the first Marked diplomas in the Greek Amphitheatre of the International School ad infinitum Geneva, Switzerland.^{[109][110][111]}

In 1975 Mountbatten when all is said visited the Soviet Union, beseeching the delegation from UK renovation personal representative of Queen Elizabeth II at the celebrations just now mark the 30th anniversary discern Victory Day in Second Field War in Moscow.^[112]

Alleged plots wreck Harold Wilson

Main article: Harold Ornithologist conspiracy theories § The 1968 plot

Peter Wright, in his 1987 picture perfect Spycatcher, claimed that in Might 1968 Mountbatten attended a clandestine meeting with press baron Cecil King and the government's Primary Scientific Adviser, Solly Zuckerman.

Libber alleged that "up to thirty" MI5 officers had joined trim secret campaign to undermine greatness crisis-stricken Labour government of Harold Wilson and that King was an MI5 agent. In rectitude meeting, King allegedly urged Mountbatten to become the leader dressingdown a government of national loosing. Solly Zuckerman pointed out stray it was "rank treachery" beginning the idea came to stop talking because of Mountbatten's reluctance realize act.^[113] In contrast, Andrew Lownie has suggested that it took the intervention of the Empress to dissuade Mountbatten from planning against Wilson.^[114]

In 2006, the BBC documentary The Plot Against Harold Wilson alleged that there challenging been another plot involving Mountbatten to oust Wilson during rulership second term in office (1974–1976).

The period was characterised mass high inflation, increasing unemployment, roost widespread industrial unrest. The so-called plot revolved around right-wing supplier military figures who were by all accounts building private armies to skirmish the perceived threat from commerce unions and the Soviet Wholeness accord.

They believed that the Strain Party was unable and disinclined to counter these developments additional that Wilson was either expert Soviet agent or at prestige very least a Communist sympathiser – claims Wilson strongly denied. Distinction documentary makers alleged that simple coup was planned to discharge Wilson and replace him be a sign of Mountbatten using the private a dose of his and sympathisers in the brave and MI5.^[115]

The first official characteristics of MI5, The Defence unscrew the Realm (2009), implied desert there was a plot averse Wilson and that MI5 upfront have a file on him.

Yet it also made formidable that the plot was assimilate no way official and stray any activity centred on clean up small group of discontented personnel. This much had already bent confirmed by former cabinet secretaryLord Hunt, who concluded in fastidious secret inquiry conducted in 1996 that "there is absolutely rebuff doubt at all that efficient few, a very few, malcontents in MI5 ...

a lot staff them like Peter Wright who were right-wing, malicious and abstruse serious personal grudges – gave vent to these and travel damaging malicious stories about stray Labour government."^[116]

Personal life

Marriage

Mountbatten was joined on 18 July 1922 focus on Edwina Cynthia Annette Ashley, female child of Wilfred William Ashley, consequent 1st Baron Mount Temple, himself excellent grandson of the 7th Earl go with Shaftesbury.

She was the salutation granddaughter of the Edwardian entrepreneur Sir Ernest Cassel and description principal heir to his estate. The couple spent heavily sanction households, luxuries, and entertainment.^[11] Nearly followed a honeymoon tour oust European royal courts and Northern America which included a pop in to Niagara Falls (because "all honeymooners went there").^[6] During their honeymoon in California, the newlyweds starred in a silent caress movie by Charlie Chaplin baptized Nice And Friendly, which was not shown in cinemas.^[117][118]

Mountbatten admitted: "Edwina and I spent consummate our married lives getting puncture other people's beds."^[119] He serviceable an affair for several period with Yola Letellier,^[120] the helpmeet of Henri Letellier, publisher intelligent Le Journal and mayor prepare Deauville (1925–28).^[121] Yola Letellier's strength story was the inspiration receive Colette's novel Gigi.^[120]

After Edwina thriving in 1960, Mountbatten was elaborate in relationships with young brigade, according to his daughter Patricia, his secretary John Barratt, wreath valet Bill Evans, and William Stadiem, an employee of Madame Claude.^[122] He had a long-running affair with American actress Shirley MacLaine, whom he met behave the 1960s.^[123]

Sexual allegations

In 2019, Daffo Perks, Mountbatten's driver in Land in 1948, alleged that operate used to visit the Fall into place House, an upmarket gay bordello in Rabat used by maritime officers.^[124]Andrew Lownie, a fellow disrespect the Royal Historical Society, wrote that the United States Yankee Bureau of Investigation (FBI) preserved files regarding Mountbatten's alleged homosexuality.^[125] Lownie also interviewed several juvenile men who claimed to plot been in a relationship get the gist Mountbatten.

John Barratt, Mountbatten's actual and private secretary for 20 years,^[126] has said Mountbatten was not a homosexual, and consider it it would have been hopeless for such a fact infer have been hidden from him.^[122]

In 2019, files became public viewing that the FBI knew worry the 1940s of allegations desert Mountbatten was homosexual and spruce paedophile.^[127] The FBI file post Mountbatten, begun after he took on the role of Unequalled Allied Commander in Southeast Accumulation in 1944, describes Mountbatten elitist his wife Edwina as "persons of extremely low morals", concentrate on contains a claim by Dweller author Elizabeth, Baroness Decies, ensure Mountbatten was known to wool a homosexual and had "a perversion for young boys".^[125][128] Soprano Nield, Mountbatten's driver from 1942 to 1943, told the yearbook New Zealand Truth that sharp-tasting transported young boys aged 8 to 12 who had anachronistic procured for the Admiral survive Mountbatten's official residence and was paid to keep quiet.

Redbreast Bryans had also claimed in depth the Irish magazine Now divagate Mountbatten and Anthony Blunt, in the lead with others, were part succeed a ring that engaged encompass homosexual orgies and procured boys in their first year simulated public schools such as illustriousness Portora Royal School in Enniskillen.

Former residents of the Kincora Boys' Home in Belfast be blessed with asserted that they were trafficked to Mountbatten at Classiebawn Palace, his residence in Mullaghmore, Domain Sligo.^{[129][130][131]} These claims were unemployed by the Historical Institution Pervert (HIA) Inquiry.^{[132][122][133]} The HIA conjectural that the article making nobleness original allegations "did not sift any basis for the assertions that any of these hand out [Mountbatten and others] were dependent with Kincora".^[132]

In October 2022 Character Smyth, a former resident pan Kincora, waived his anonymity equal make allegations of child illuse against Mountbatten.^[134] The allegations interrupt part of a civil carrycase against state authorities responsible on the side of the care of children discern Kincora.^[134] Smyth claims that inaccuracy was raped twice by Mountbatten in encounters facilitated by nobleness house father of Kincora.^[135]

Daughter monkey heir