Life and times of lord mountbatten

British statesman and Royal Fleet officer (1900–1979)

"Louis Mountbatten" redirects near. For his father, the Ordinal Marquess of Milford Haven, image Prince Louis of Battenberg. Disperse his hereditary peerage, see Marquess Mountbatten of Burma.

Louis Francis Albert Victor Bishop Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten goods Burma (born Prince Louis be keen on Battenberg;^{[n 1]} 25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979), habitually known as Lord Mountbatten, was a British statesman, Royal 1 officer and close relative grapple the British royal family. Unwind was born in the Common Kingdom to the prominent Battenberg family. He was a careful uncle of Prince Philip, Marquess of Edinburgh, and a in a tick cousin of King George VI. He joined the Royal Armada during the First World Enmity and was appointed Supreme Concerted Commander, South East Asia Person in charge, in the Second World Clash. He later served as character last Viceroy of India skull briefly as the first Governor-General of the Dominion of Bharat.

Mountbatten attended the Royal Maritime College, Osborne, before entering primacy Royal Navy in 1916. Pacify saw action during the latest phase of the First Universe War, and after the clash briefly attended Christ's College, University. During the interwar period, Mountbatten continued to pursue his seafaring career, specialising in naval field. Following the outbreak of ethics Second World War, he demanded the destroyer HMS Kelly and distinction 5th Destroyer Flotilla. He byword considerable action in Norway, soupзon the English Channel, and necessitate the Mediterranean. In August 1941, he received command of prestige aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. He was appointed chief of Combined Throw and a member of rendering Chiefs of Staff Committee speak early 1942, and organised influence raids on St Nazaire remarkable Dieppe. In August 1943, Mountbatten became Supreme Allied Commander Southbound East Asia Command and oversaw the recapture of Burma good turn Singapore from the Japanese indifferent to the end of 1945. Recognize the value of his service during the clash, Mountbatten was created viscount swindle 1946 and earl the later year.

In February 1947, Mountbatten was appointed Viceroy and Governor-General of India and oversaw prestige Partition of India into Bharat and Pakistan. He then served as the first Governor-General hint the Union of India on hold June 1948 and played spruce up significant role in persuading queenly states to accede to India.^[1] In 1952, Mountbatten was adapted commander-in-chief of the British Sea Fleet and NATO Commander Concerted Forces Mediterranean. From 1955 disrupt 1959, he was First The deep Lord, a position that confidential been held by his priest, Prince Louis of Battenberg, dreadful forty years earlier. Thereafter sand served as chief of rendering Defence Staff until 1965, construction him the longest-serving professional imagination of the British Armed Bracing reserves to date. During this span Mountbatten also served as head of the NATO Military Council for a year.

In Respected 1979, Mountbatten was assassinated mass a bomb planted aboard sovereignty fishing boat in Mullaghmore, Division Sligo, Ireland, by members blame the Provisional Irish Republican Flock. He received a ceremonial interment at Westminster Abbey and was buried in Romsey Abbey regulate Hampshire.

Early life

Mountbatten, then name Prince Louis of Battenberg, was born on 25 June 1900 at Frogmore House in rendering Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire.^[2] Pacify was the youngest child wallet the second son of Consort Louis of Battenberg and cap wife Princess Victoria of Author and by Rhine.^[3] Mountbatten's affectionate grandparents were Louis IV, Remarkable Duke of Hesse, and Empress Alice of the United Country, who was a daughter rot Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Sovereignty paternal grandparents were Prince Vanquisher 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; chimpanzee a result, he and potentate father were styled "Serene Highness" rather than "Grand Ducal Highness", were not eligible to distrust titled Princes of Hesse, promote were given the less elevated Battenberg title. Mountbatten's elder siblings were Princess Alice of Battenberg (mother of Prince Philip, Count of Edinburgh), Princess Louise collide Battenberg (later Queen Louise game Sweden), and Prince George counterfeit Battenberg (later George Mountbatten, Ordinal Marquess of Milford Haven).^[4]

Mountbatten was baptised in the large haulage room of Frogmore House pain 17 July 1900 by leadership Dean of Windsor, Philip Dramatist. His godparents were Queen Town (his maternal great-grandmother), Nicholas II of Russia (his maternal copier through marriage and paternal in a tick cousin, represented by the child's father) and Prince Francis Carpenter of Battenberg (his paternal commentator, represented by Lord Edward Clinton).^[5] He wore the original 1841 royal christening gown at greatness ceremony.^[5]

Mountbatten's nickname among family contemporary friends was "Dickie"; however "Richard" was not among his obtain names. This was because circlet great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, had noncompulsory the nickname of "Nicky", however to avoid confusion with blue blood the gentry many Nickys of the Slavonic Imperial Family ("Nicky" was addition used to refer to Bishop II, the last Tsar), "Nicky" was changed to "Dickie".^[6]

Mountbatten was educated at home for leadership first 10 years of empress life; he was then drive to Lockers Park School be thankful for Hertfordshire^[7] and on to honourableness Royal Naval College, Osborne, encumber May 1913.^[8]

Mountbatten's mother's younger nurse was Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. In childhood he visited authority Imperial Court of Russia package St Petersburg and became insinuate with the Russian Imperial Race, harbouring romantic feelings towards consummate maternal first cousin Grand Equal Maria Nikolaevna, whose photograph misstep kept at his bedside present the rest of his life.^[9]

Mountbatten adopted his surname as dinky result of World War Side-splitting. From 1914 to 1918, Kingdom and its allies were fuming war with the Central Capabilities, led by the German Power. To appease British nationalist affections, in 1917 King George Out-and-out issued a royal proclamation unexcitable the name of the Land royal house from the Teutonic House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Dynasty. The king's British relatives do better than 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 hostilities Milford Haven.^[10]

First World War

At say publicly age of 16, Mountbatten was posted as midshipman to representation battlecruiserHMS Lion in July 1916 standing, after seeing action in Honourable 1916, transferred to the capital ship HMS Queen Elizabeth during the here phases of the First Globe War.^[8] In June 1917, as the royal family stopped put their German names and awards and adopted the more British-sounding "Windsor", Mountbatten acquired the courtliness title appropriate to a erstwhile son of a marquess, applicable known as Lord Louis Mountbatten (Lord Louis for short) undetermined he was created a peek in his own right dwell in 1946.^[11] He paid a go of ten days to blue blood the gentry Western Front in July 1918.^[12]

While still an acting-sub-lieutenant, Mountbatten was appointed first lieutenant (second-in-command) game the P-class sloop HMS P. 31 indict 13 October 1918 and was confirmed as a substantivesub-lieutenant dispose 15 January 1919. HMS P. 31 took part in the Peace Course Pageant on 4 April 1919. Mountbatten attended Christ's College, City, for two terms, starting convoluted October 1919, where he touched English literature (including John Poet and Lord Byron) in a- programme designed to augment depiction education of junior officers which had been curtailed by authority war.^[13][14] He was elected endow with a term to the Whim Committee of the Cambridge Agreement Society and was suspected hegemony sympathy for the Labour Thing, then emerging as a credible party of government for influence first time.^[15]

Interwar period

Mountbatten was hip to the battlecruiser HMS Renown involved March 1920 and accompanied Prince, Prince of Wales, on marvellous royal tour of Australia acquit yourself her.^[11] He was promoted deputy on 15 April 1920.^[16] HMS Renown returned to Portsmouth on 11 October 1920.^[17] Early in 1921 Royal Navy personnel were drippy for civil defence duties despite the fact that serious industrial unrest seemed in the balance. Mountbatten had to command graceful platoon of stokers, many magnetize whom had never handled dialect trig rifle before, in Northern England.^[17] He transferred to the battlecruiser HMS Repulse in March 1921 survive accompanied the Prince of Cymru on a Royal tour tinge India and Japan.^[11][18]Edward and Mountbatten formed a close friendship on the trip.^[11] Mountbatten survived greatness deep defence cuts known chimp the Geddes Axe. Fifty-two pct of the officers of emperor year had had to walk out on the Royal Navy by goodness end of 1923; although explicit was highly regarded by potentate superiors, it was rumoured mosey wealthy and well-connected officers were more likely to be retained.^[19] Mountbatten was posted to decency battleship HMS Revenge in the Sea Fleet in January 1923.^[11]

Pursuing coronate interests in technological development boss gadgetry, Mountbatten joined the City Signals School in August 1924 and then went on in a word to study electronics at depiction Royal Naval College, Greenwich.^[11] Mountbatten became a Member of distinction Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), now the Institution of Plan and Technology (IET).^[20] He was posted to the battleship HMS Centurion in the Reserve Fleet tenuous 1926 and became Assistant Navy Wireless and Signals Officer have possession of the Mediterranean Fleet under nobility command of Admiral Sir Roger Keyes in January 1927.^[11] Promoted lieutenant commander on 15 Apr 1928,^[21] Mountbatten returned to integrity Signals School in July 1929 as Senior Wireless Instructor.^[11] Without fear was appointed Fleet Wireless Public servant to the Mediterranean Fleet elation August 1931 and, having archaic promoted commander on 31 Dec 1932,^[22] was posted to honourableness battleship HMS Resolution.^[11]

In 1934, Mountbatten was appointed to his first procession – the destroyer HMS Daring.^[11] Diadem ship was a new ruiner, which he was to incursion to Singapore and exchange acknowledge an older ship, HMS Wishart.^[11] Settle down successfully brought Wishart back embark on port in Malta and expand attended the funeral of Martyr V in January 1936.^[23] Mountbatten was appointed a personal seafaring aide-de-camp to King Edward 8 on 23 June 1936^[24] add-on, having joined the Naval Spoil Division of the Admiralty esteem July 1936,^[25] he attended primacy coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Possibly will 1937.^[26] Mountbatten was promoted skipper on 30 June 1937^[27] give orders to was then given command loosen the destroyer HMS Kelly in June 1939.^[28]

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

Second World War

When conflict broke out in September 1939, Mountbatten became Captain (D) (commander) of the 5th Destroyer Navy aboard HMS Kelly, which became famous for its exploits.^[25] Interject late 1939 he brought magnanimity Duke of Windsor back take the stones out of exile in France and well-off early May 1940 Mountbatten unfasten a British convoy in consume the fog to evacuate glory Allied forces participating in integrity Namsos Campaign during the Nordic Campaign.^[28]

On the night of 9–10 May 1940, Kelly was torpedoed amidships by a German E-boatS 31 off the Dutch coast, meticulous Mountbatten thereafter commanded the Ordinal Destroyer Flotilla from the butcher HMS Javelin.^[28] On 29 November 1940 the 5th Flotilla engaged couple German destroyers off Lizard Fill in, Cornwall. Mountbatten turned to trap to match a German run change. This was "a degree disastrous move as the directorate swung off and lost target"^[31] and it resulted in Javelin being struck by two torpedoes. He rejoined Kelly in Dec 1940, by which time goodness torpedo damage had been repaired.^[28]

Kelly was sunk by German leap bombers on 23 May 1941 during the Battle of Crete;^[32] the incident serving as nobleness basis for Noël Coward's skin In Which We Serve.^[33] Drip was a personal friend tactic Mountbatten and copied some enjoy yourself his speeches into the film.^[32] Mountbatten was mentioned in despatches on 9 August 1940^[34] favour 21 March 1941^[35] and awarded the Distinguished Service Order get January 1941.^[36]

In August 1941, Mountbatten was appointed captain of authority aircraft carrierHMS Illustrious which lay detain Norfolk, Virginia, for repairs closest action at Malta in January.^[32] During this period of connected inactivity, he paid a quick visit to Pearl Harbor, a handful of months before the Japanese argue on it. Mountbatten, appalled cherished the US naval base's absence of preparedness, drawing on Japan's history of launching wars competent surprise attacks as well hoot the successful British surprise isolated at the Battle of Taranto which had effectively knocked Italy's fleet out of the conflict, and the sheer effectiveness achieve aircraft against warships, accurately sensible that the US would write down crush the war after a Nipponese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.^[32][37]

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

His duties in this role included inventing new technical aids to backing with opposed landings.^[25] Noteworthy detailed achievements of Mountbatten and rule staff include the construction sight "PLUTO", an underwater oil passage to Normandy, an artificial Mulberry harbour constructed of concrete caissons and sunken ships, and significance development of tank-landing ships.^[25] Recourse project Mountbatten proposed to Author was Project Habakkuk. It was to be an unsinkable 600-metre aircraft carrier made from hard-working ice ("Pykrete"); Habakkuk was under no circumstances carried out due to tog up enormous cost.^[25]

As commander of Cumulative Operations, Mountbatten and his standard planned the highly successful Bruneval raid, which gained important word and captured part of spiffy tidy up German Würzburg radar installation unthinkable one of the machine's technicians on 27 February 1942. Outdo was Mountbatten who recognised go off at a tangent surprise and speed were indispensable to capture the radar, bear saw that an airborne attack was the only viable method.^[39]

On 18 March 1942, he was promoted to the acting in single file of vice admiral and prone the honorary ranks of helper general^[40] and air marshal in the matter of have the authority to produce out his duties in Compounded Operations; and, despite the wariness of GeneralSir Alan Brooke, blue blood the gentry Chief of the Imperial Common Staff,^[41] Mountbatten was placed hurt the Chiefs of Staff Committee.^[42] He was in large withdraw responsible for the planning professor organisation of the St Nazaire Raid on 28 March, which put out of action separate of the most heavily defended docks in Nazi-occupied France well after the war's period, the ramifications of which discretionary to allied supremacy in rectitude Battle of the Atlantic. Care these two successes came greatness Dieppe Raid of 19 Noble 1942. He was central rejoicing the planning and promotion faultless the raid on the set free of Dieppe. The raid was a marked failure, with casualties of almost 60%, the unexceptional majority of them Canadians.^[32] Consequent the Dieppe Raid, Mountbatten became a controversial figure in Canada, with the Royal Canadian Diverse distancing itself from him away his visits there during climax later career.^[43] His relations enrol Canadian veterans, who blamed him for the losses, "remained frosty" after the war.^[44]

Mountbatten claimed stroll the lessons learned from justness Dieppe Raid were necessary kindle planning the Normandy invasion deliberate D-Day nearly two years next. However, military historians such chimpanzee Major-GeneralJulian Thompson, a former participant of the Royal Marines, accept written that these lessons obligated to not have needed a mishap such as Dieppe to snigger recognised.^[45] Nevertheless, as a honest result of the failings advance the Dieppe Raid, the Land made several innovations, most surprisingly Hobart's Funnies – specialised lasting vehicles which, in the complete of the Normandy Landings, beyond a saved many lives on those three beachheads upon which Nation soldiers were landing (Gold Strand, Juno Beach and Sword Beach).^[46]

SEAC and Burma campaign

In August 1943, Churchill appointed Mountbatten the Topmost Allied Commander South East Continent Command (SEAC) with promotion substantiate acting full admiral.^[32] His courteous practical ideas were sidelined chunk an experienced planning staff unwished for by Lieutenant-Colonel James Allason, hunt through some, such as a position to launch an amphibious encroach upon near Rangoon, got as distance off as Churchill before being quashed.^[47]

British interpreter Hugh Lunghi recounted necessitate embarrassing episode during the Potsdam Conference when Mountbatten, desiring persist at receive an invitation to go again the Soviet Union, repeatedly attempted to impress Joseph Stalin be on a par with his former connections to rectitude Russian imperial family. The ground fell predictably flat, with Communist dryly inquiring whether "it was some time ago that fair enough had been there". Says Lunghi, "The meeting was embarrassing being Stalin was so unimpressed. Crystalclear offered no invitation. Mountbatten lefthand with his tail between enthrone legs."^[48]

During his time as Nonpareil Allied Commander of the Southeastern Asia Theatre, his command oversaw the recapture of Burma breakout the Japanese by GeneralSir William Slim.^[49] A personal high spotlight was the receipt of nobleness Japanese surrender in Singapore considering that British troops returned to integrity island to receive the contained surrender of Japanese forces rope in the region led by Common Itagaki Seishiro on 12 Sep 1945, codenamed Operation Tiderace.^[50] Southernmost East Asia Command was disbanded in May 1946 and Mountbatten returned home with the earthly rank of rear-admiral.^[51] That best, he was made a On horseback Companion of the Garter brook created Viscount Mountbatten of Burma, of Romsey in the Region of Southampton, as a deed title for war service. Dirt was then in 1947 in mint condition created Earl Mountbatten of Burma and Baron Romsey, of Romsey in the County of Southampton.^[52][53]

Following the war, Mountbatten was famous to have largely shunned birth Japanese for the rest methodical his life out of adoration for his men killed sooner than the war and, as solid his will, Japan was weep invited to send diplomatic representatives to his funeral in 1979, though he did meet Prince Hirohito during his state go to see to Britain in 1971, reportedly at the urging of picture Queen.^[54]

Viceroy of India

Main article: Splitup of India

Mountbatten's experience in honesty region and in particular cap perceived Labour sympathies at ditch time, alongside his wife's longstanding friendship and collaboration with Categorically. K. Krishna Menon, led give somebody no option but to Menon putting forth Mountbatten's honour alone as a viceregal officeseeker acceptable to the Indian Individual Congress, in clandestine meetings identify Sir Stafford Cripps and Merciful Attlee.^[55] Attlee advised King Martyr VI to appoint Mountbatten Governor of India on 20 Feb 1947^[56][57] charged with overseeing ethics transition of British India get trapped in independence no later than 30 June 1948. Mountbatten's instructions were to avoid partition and shield a united India as dinky result of the transfer near power but authorised him join adapt to a changing place in order to get Kingdom out promptly with minimal reputational damage.^[58][59]

Mountbatten arrived in India opt 22 March by air, make the first move London. In the evening, noteworthy was taken to his dwelling-place and two days later, perform took the Viceregal oath. Culminate arrival saw large-scale communal riots in Delhi, Bombay and City. Mountbatten concluded that the site was too volatile to wait for even a year before on the assumption that independence to India. Although government advisers favoured a gradual dilemma of independence, Mountbatten decided rectitude only way forward was expert quick and orderly transfer be fitting of power before 1947 was shower. In his view, any somebody would mean civil war.^[60] Mountbatten also hurried so he could return to the Royal Navy.^[61][62]

Mountbatten was fond of Congress governor Jawaharlal Nehru and his openhearted outlook for the country, take precedence, through the efforts of their close mutual friend, Krishna Menon, developed a certain depth tactic feeling and intimacy with both Nehru that was shared next to his wife, Edwina. He change differently about the Muslim Association leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on the contrary was aware of his strength of character, stating "If it could background said that any single fellow held the future of Bharat in the palm of reward hand in 1947, that chap was Mohammad Ali Jinnah."^[62] Cloth his meeting with Jinnah ceremony 5 April 1947,^[63] Mountbatten reliable to persuade him of marvellous united India, citing the problematic task of dividing the miscellaneous states of Punjab and Bengal, but the Muslim leader was unyielding in his goal attack establishing a separate Muslim statecalled Pakistan.^[64]

Given the British government's recommendations to grant independence quickly, Mountbatten concluded that a united Bharat was an unachievable goal other resigned himself to a pose for partition, creating the unrestrained nations of India and Pakistan.^[25] Mountbatten set a date awaken the transfer of power outlander the British to the Indians, arguing that a fixed timeline would convince Indians of her majesty and the British government's honesty in working towards a flying and efficient independence, excluding technique possibilities of stalling the process.^[65]

Among the Indian leaders, Mahatma Solon emphatically insisted on maintaining uncut united India and for ingenious while successfully rallied people surrounding this goal. During his break in fighting with Mountbatten, Gandhi asked Mountbatten to invite Jinnah to formation a new central government, on the contrary Mountbatten never uttered a signal of Gandhi's ideas to Jinnah.^[67] When Mountbatten's timeline offered dignity prospect of attaining independence in a little while, sentiments took a different spin. Given Mountbatten's determination, Nehru build up Sardar Patel's inability to arrangement with the Muslim League have a word with, lastly, Jinnah's obstinacy, all Asiatic party leaders (except Gandhi) acquiesced to Jinnah's plan to shorten India,^[68] which in turn alleviated Mountbatten's task. Mountbatten also mature a strong relationship with character Indian princes, who ruled those portions of India not there and then under British rule. His intrusion was decisive in persuading influence vast majority of them norm see advantages in opting stand firm join the Indian Union.^[69] Thoughts one hand, the integration take possession of the princely states can suspect viewed as one of goodness positive aspects of his legacy^[70] but on the other, grandeur refusal of Hyderabad, Jammu professor Kashmir, and Junagadh to watershed one of the dominions direct to future wars between Pakistan and India.^[71]

Mountbatten brought forward leadership date of the partition outlander June 1948 to 15 Revered 1947.^[72] The uncertainty of illustriousness borders caused Muslims and Hindus to move into the train where they felt they would get the majority. Hindus sports ground Muslims were thoroughly terrified, coupled with the Muslim movement from character East was balanced by goodness similar movement of Hindus distance from the West.^[73] A boundary congress chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe was charged with drawing marches for the new nations. Swop a mandate to leave chimpanzee many Hindus and Sikhs jagged India and as many Muslims in Pakistan as possible, Radcliffe came up with a chart that split the two countries along the Punjab and Bengal borders. This left 14 million go out on the "wrong" side have available the border, and very go to regularly of them fled to "safety" on the other side like that which the new lines were announced.^[60][74]

Independence of India and Pakistan

When Bharat and Pakistan attained independence lessons midnight of 14–15 August 1947, Mountbatten was alone in potentate study at the Viceroy's studio saying to himself just already the clock struck midnight drift for still a few action, he was the most beefy man on Earth. At 12 am, as a last put it on of showmanship, he created Joan Falkiner, the Australian wife pressure the Nawab of Palanpur, graceful highness, an act that was apparently one of his preference duties that was annulled varnish the stroke of midnight.^[75]

Notwithstanding illustriousness self-promotion of his own allotment in Indian independence – notably outer shell the television series The Growth and Times of Admiral clamour the Fleet Lord Mountbatten catch the fancy of Burma, produced by his son-in-law Lord Brabourne, and Freedom deride Midnight by Dominique Lapierre station Larry Collins (of which fair enough was the main quoted source) – his record is seen bring in very mixed. One common develop is that he hastened grandeur process of independence unduly sports ground recklessly, foreseeing vast disruption alight loss of life and grizzle demand wanting this to occur location his watch, but thereby absolutely helping it to occur (albeit in an indirect manner), particularly in Punjab and Bengal.^[76]John Kenneth Galbraith, the Canadian-American Harvard Institution economist, who advised governments introduce India during the 1950s champion was an intimate of Statesman who served as the Denizen ambassador from 1961 to 1963, was a particularly harsh essayist of Mountbatten in this regard.^[77] However, another view is renounce the British were forced cheerfulness expedite the partition process count up avoid involvement in a possible civil war with law arena order having already broken diminish and Britain with limited process after the Second World War.^[78][79] According to historian Lawrence Criminal, Mountbatten was left with cack-handed other option but to be reduced to and run, with the choosing being involvement in a feasible civil war that would befall difficult to get out of.^[78]

The creation of Pakistan was on no occasion emotionally accepted by many Country leaders, among them Mountbatten.^[80] Mountbatten clearly expressed his lack simulated support and faith in nobleness Muslim League's idea of Pakistan.^[81]Jinnah refused Mountbatten's offer to retain as Governor-General of Pakistan.^[82] As Mountbatten was asked by Writer and Lapierre if he would have sabotaged the creation worm your way in Pakistan had he known ditch Jinnah was dying of t.b., he replied, "Most probably".^[83]

Governor-General depose India

Mountbatten became the first Governor-General of independent India on 15 August 1947 upon the apply for of Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The Life magazine acclaimed on his reception in Bharat that, "The people gathered difficulty the streets to cheer Mountbatten as no European had cunning been cheered before."^[84]

During his power as governor-general until 21 June 1948, he played a register role in the political combining of India and persuaded patronize princely states to join India.^[1][85] On Mountbatten's advice, India took the issue of Kashmir tip the newly formed United Goodwill in January 1948.^[86] Accounts be unlike on the future which Mountbatten desired for Kashmir. Pakistani back suggest that Mountbatten favoured representation accession of Kashmir to Bharat, citing his close relationship anticipate Nehru. Mountbatten's own account says that he simply wanted Maharajah Hari Singh to make reason his mind. The viceroy energetic several attempts to mediate in the middle of the Congress leaders, Muhammad Prizefighter Jinnah and Hari Singh get the drift issues relating to the attainment of Kashmir, though he was largely unsuccessful in resolving distinction conflict.^[87] After the tribal inroad of Kashmir, it was thorough knowledge his suggestion that India pretended to secure the accession fall foul of Kashmir from Hari Singh beforehand sending in military forces production his defence.^[88]

After his tenure variety governor-general concluded, Mountbatten continued gain enjoy close relations with Statesman and the post-Independence Indian greater number, and was welcomed as copperplate former governor-general of India attention to detail subsequent visits to the state, including during an official ride in March 1956. The Asian government, by contrast, lacked nifty positive view of Mountbatten his perceived hostile attitude eminence Pakistan and deemed him persona non grata, barring him free yourself of transiting their airspace during distinction same visit.^[89]

Later career

After India, Mountbatten served as commander of ethics 1st Cruiser Squadron in righteousness Mediterranean Fleet and, having antique granted the substantive rank break into vice-admiral on 22 June 1949,^[90] he became Second-in-Command of prestige Mediterranean Fleet in April 1950.^[85] He became Fourth Sea Nobleman at the Admiralty in June 1950. He then returned unearth the Mediterranean to serve importance Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet and NATO Commander Allied Forces Mediterranean deseed June 1952.^[85] He was promoted to the substantive rank keep in good condition full admiral on 27 Feb 1953.^[91] In March 1953, loosen up was appointed Personal Aide-de-Camp activate the Queen.^[92]

Mountbatten served his terminating posting at the Admiralty by reason of First Sea Lord and Boss of the Naval Staff wean away from April 1955 to July 1959, the position which his priest had held some forty epoch before. This was the gain victory time in Royal Naval depiction that a father and lass had both attained such extreme office.^[93] He was promoted principle Admiral of the Fleet class 22 October 1956.^[94]

In the Metropolis Crisis of 1956, Mountbatten forcefully advised his old friend Make Minister Anthony Eden against greatness Conservative government's plans to trap the Suez Canal in amalgam with France and Israel. Grace argued that such a stir would destabilize the Middle Take breaths, undermine the authority of high-mindedness United Nations, divide the Land and diminish Britain's global stationary. His advice was not tied up. Eden insisted that Mountbatten need resign. Instead, he worked resolved to prepare the Royal Armada for war with characteristic professionalism and thoroughness.^[95][96][97]

Despite his military disagreement, Mountbatten was ignorant as chew out the physics involved in tidy nuclear explosion and had go along with be reassured that the dividing line reactions from the Bikini Island tests would not spread have a medical condition the oceans and blow finer the planet.^[98] As Mountbatten became more familiar with this pristine form of weaponry, he more and more grew opposed to its villa in combat. Yet, he accomplished the potential for nuclear power, especially with regard to submarines. Mountbatten expressed his feelings turn the use of nuclear weapons in combat in his cancel "A Military Commander Surveys Character Nuclear Arms Race", which was published shortly after his end in International Security in high-mindedness Winter of 1979–1980.^[99]

After leaving representation Admiralty, Mountbatten took the label of Chief of the Defend Staff.^[85] He served in that post for six years aside which he was able hug consolidate the three service departments of the military branch discuss a single Ministry of Defence.^[100]Ian Jacob, co-author of the 1963 Report on the Central Administration of Defence that served primate the basis of these reforms, described Mountbatten as "universally mistrusted in spite of his gigantic qualities".^[101] On their election display October 1964, the Wilson council had to decide whether get on the right side of renew his appointment the multitude July. The Defence Secretary, Denis Healey, interviewed the forty first senior officials in the The cloth of Defence; only one, Sir Kenneth Strong, a personal keep count of of Mountbatten, recommended his reappointment.^[101] "When I told Dickie assert my decision not to reappoint him," recalls Healey, "he smack his thigh and roared fine-tune delight; but his eyes avid a different story."^[101]

Mountbatten was suitable Colonel of The Life Guards and Gold Stick in Tarrying on 29 January 1965^[102] spreadsheet Life Colonel Commandant of description Royal Marines the same year.^[103] He was Governor of righteousness Isle of Wight from 20 July 1965^[104] and then ethics first Lord Lieutenant of righteousness Isle of Wight from 1 April 1974.^[105]

Mountbatten was elected simple Fellow of the Royal Society^[25] and had received an titular doctorate from Heriot-Watt University extract 1968.^[106]

In 1969, Mountbatten tried mischievously to persuade his second relation, the Spanish pretender Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, to appalling the eventual accession of consummate son, Juan Carlos, to prestige Spanish throne by signing smashing declaration of abdication while forecast exile.^[107] The next year Mountbatten attended an official White Abode dinner during which he took the opportunity to have unadorned 20-minute conversation with Richard President and Secretary of State William P. Rogers, about which powder later wrote, "I was mild to talk to the Maestro a bit about both Tino [Constantine II of Greece] prep added to Juanito [Juan Carlos of Spain] to try and put done their respective points of fair about Greece and Spain, abide how I felt the Yawning could help them."^[107] In Jan 1971, Nixon hosted Juan Carlos and his wife Sofia (sister of the exiled King Constantine) during a visit to General and later that year The Washington Post published an thing alleging that Nixon's administration was seeking to persuade Franco forget about retire in favour of leadership young Bourbon prince.^[107]

From 1967 while 1978, Mountbatten was president donation the United World Colleges Orderliness, then represented by a matchless college: that of Atlantic School in South Wales. Mountbatten based the United World Colleges abide encouraged heads of state, politicians, and personalities throughout the fake to share his interest. Adorn his presidency and personal display, the United World College assess South East Asia was entrenched in Singapore in 1971, followed by the United World School of the Pacific in Port, British Columbia, in 1974. Instructions 1978, Mountbatten passed the rule of the college to empress great-nephew, Charles, Prince of Wales.^[108]

Mountbatten also helped to launch high-mindedness International Baccalaureate; in 1971 forbidden presented the first IB diplomas in the Greek Theatre reduce speed the International School of Geneve, Switzerland.^{[109][110][111]}

In 1975 Mountbatten finally visited the Soviet Union, leading depiction delegation from UK as outoftheway representative of Queen Elizabeth II at the celebrations to marker the 30th anniversary of Shake-up Day in Second World Hostilities in Moscow.^[112]

Alleged plots against Harold Wilson

Main article: Harold Wilson narrative theories § The 1968 plot

Peter Artificer, in his 1987 book Spycatcher, claimed that in May 1968 Mountbatten attended a private assignation with press baron Cecil Giving and the government's Chief Orderly Adviser, Solly Zuckerman. Wright avowed that "up to thirty" MI5 officers had joined a hidden campaign to undermine the crisis-stricken Labour government of Harold President and that King was plug up MI5 agent. In the subjugated, King allegedly urged Mountbatten kind become the leader of simple government of national salvation. Solly Zuckerman pointed out that gang was "rank treachery" and high-mindedness idea came to nothing owing to of Mountbatten's reluctance to act.^[113] In contrast, Andrew Lownie has suggested that it took illustriousness intervention of the Queen hit dissuade Mountbatten from plotting break the rules Wilson.^[114]

In 2006, the BBC picture The Plot Against Harold Wilson alleged that there had back number another plot involving Mountbatten accomplish oust Wilson during his straightaway any more term in office (1974–1976). Magnanimity period was characterised by big inflation, increasing unemployment, and general industrial unrest. The alleged district revolved around right-wing former force figures who were supposedly property private armies to counter goodness perceived threat from trade unions and the Soviet Union. They believed that the Labour Personal was unable and unwilling commemorative inscription counter these developments and ditch Wilson was either a Council agent or at the statement least a Communist sympathiser – claims Wilson strongly denied. The film makers alleged that a set up was planned to overthrow Physicist and replace him with Mountbatten using the private armies refuse sympathisers in the military stomach MI5.^[115]

The first official history defer to MI5, The Defence of nobleness Realm (2009), implied that with was a plot against Geophysicist and that MI5 did possess a file on him. So far it also made clear dump the plot was in thumb way official and that cockamamie activity centred on a tiny group of discontented officers. That much had already been inveterate by former cabinet secretaryLord Chase, who concluded in a strange inquiry conducted in 1996 go off at a tangent "there is absolutely no alarm at all that a not many, a very few, malcontents row MI5 ... a lot of them like Peter Wright who were right-wing, malicious and had humorous personal grudges – gave encircle to these and spread malicious malicious stories about that Hard work government."^[116]

Personal life

Marriage

Mountbatten was married grass 18 July 1922 to Edwina Cynthia Annette Ashley, daughter addict Wilfred William Ashley, later 1st Baron Mount Temple, himself a grandson of the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. She was the favourite granddaughter of the Edwardian magnate Sir Ernest Cassel and the supreme heir to his fortune. Description couple spent heavily on households, luxuries, and entertainment.^[11] There followed a honeymoon tour of Indweller royal courts and North Usa which included a visit involving Niagara Falls (because "all honeymooners went there").^[6] During their honeymoon in California, the newlyweds marked in a silent home screen by Charlie Chaplin called Nice And Friendly, which was call shown in cinemas.^[117][118]

Mountbatten admitted: "Edwina and I spent all communiquй married lives getting into precision people's beds."^[119] He maintained undecorated affair for several years concluded Yola Letellier,^[120] the wife loosen Henri Letellier, publisher of Le Journal and mayor of Deauville (1925–28).^[121] Yola Letellier's life account was the inspiration for Colette's novel Gigi.^[120]

After Edwina died heritage 1960, Mountbatten was involved blot relationships with young women, according to his daughter Patricia, coronate secretary John Barratt, his gentleman Bill Evans, and William Stadiem, an employee of Madame Claude.^[122] He had a long-running argument with American actress Shirley MacLaine, whom he met in representation 1960s.^[123]

Sexual allegations

In 2019, Ron Gain, Mountbatten's driver in Malta delight in 1948, alleged that he moved to visit the Red Dwelling, an upmarket gay brothel unsavory Rabat used by naval officers.^[124]Andrew Lownie, a fellow of description Royal Historical Society, wrote ensure the United States Federal Chest of Investigation (FBI) maintained letter-paper regarding Mountbatten's alleged homosexuality.^[125] Lownie also interviewed several young other ranks who claimed to have antique in a relationship with Mountbatten. John Barratt, Mountbatten's personal tell off private secretary for 20 years,^[126] has said Mountbatten was distant a homosexual, and that drenching would have been impossible affection such a fact to plot been hidden from him.^[122]

In 2019, files became public showing wander the FBI knew in rendering 1940s of allegations that Mountbatten was homosexual and a paedophile.^[127] The FBI file on Mountbatten, begun after he took puzzlement the role of Supreme United Commander in Southeast Asia hassle 1944, describes Mountbatten and her majesty wife Edwina as "persons all but extremely low morals", and contains a claim by American essayist Elizabeth, Baroness Decies, that Mountbatten was known to be dialect trig homosexual and had "a corruption for young boys".^[125][128] Norman Nield, Mountbatten's driver from 1942 wish 1943, told the tabloid New Zealand Truth that he exhilarated young boys aged 8 be given 12 who had been borrowed for the Admiral to Mountbatten's official residence and was compensable to keep quiet. Robin Bryans had also claimed to grandeur Irish magazine Now that Mountbatten and Anthony Blunt, along familiarize yourself others, were part of unblended ring that engaged in homophile orgies and procured boys assume their first year at warning sign schools such as the Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. Preceding residents of the Kincora Boys' Home in Belfast have dubious that they were trafficked in depth Mountbatten at Classiebawn Castle, circlet residence in Mullaghmore, County Sligo.^{[129][130][131]} These claims were dismissed brush aside the Historical Institution Abuse (HIA) Inquiry.^{[132][122][133]} The HIA stated defer the article making the designing allegations "did not give sense of balance basis for the assertions go off at a tangent any of these people [Mountbatten and others] were connected put together Kincora".^[132]

In October 2022 Arthur Smyth, a former resident of Kincora, waived his anonymity to pressure allegations of child abuse disagree with Mountbatten.^[134] The allegations are substance of a civil case anti state authorities responsible for probity care of children in Kincora.^[134] Smyth claims that he was raped twice by Mountbatten shut in encounters facilitated by the home father of Kincora.^[135]

Daughter as heir