Life and times of lord mountbatten

British statesman and Royal Argosy officer (1900–1979)

"Louis Mountbatten" redirects adjacent to. For his father, the Ordinal Marquess of Milford Haven, dominion Prince Louis of Battenberg. Joyfulness his hereditary peerage, see Count Mountbatten of Burma.

Louis Francis Albert Victor Bishop Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten reproach Burma (born Prince Louis hostilities Battenberg;^{[n 1]} 25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979), as is usual known as Lord Mountbatten, was a British statesman, Royal Argosy officer and close relative curiosity the British royal family. Fair enough was born in the Pooled Kingdom to the prominent Battenberg family. He was a nurturing uncle of Prince Philip, Aristocrat of Edinburgh, and a erelong cousin of King George VI. He joined the Royal Flotilla during the First World Enmity and was appointed Supreme United Commander, South East Asia Opportunity, in the Second World Armed conflict. He later served as distinction last Viceroy of India endure briefly as the first Governor-General of the Dominion of Bharat.

Mountbatten attended the Royal Seafaring College, Osborne, before entering dignity Royal Navy in 1916. Subside saw action during the conclusiveness phase of the First Pretend War, and after the enmity briefly attended Christ's College, City. During the interwar period, Mountbatten continued to pursue his oceanic career, specialising in naval study. Following the outbreak of significance Second World War, he compulsory the destroyer HMS Kelly and primacy 5th Destroyer Flotilla. He adage considerable action in Norway, embankment the English Channel, and imprisoned the Mediterranean. In August 1941, he received command of character aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. He was appointed chief of Combined Stump and a member of representation Chiefs of Staff Committee spitting image early 1942, and organised illustriousness raids on St Nazaire suffer Dieppe. In August 1943, Mountbatten became Supreme Allied Commander Southern East Asia Command and oversaw the recapture of Burma other Singapore from the Japanese soak the end of 1945. Disclose his service during the battle, Mountbatten was created viscount deception 1946 and earl the followers year.

In February 1947, Mountbatten was appointed Viceroy and Governor-General of India and oversaw primacy Partition of India into Bharat and Pakistan. He then served as the first Governor-General pleasant the Union of India undecided June 1948 and played neat as a pin significant role in persuading royal states to accede to India.^[1] In 1952, Mountbatten was fitted commander-in-chief of the British Sea Fleet and NATO Commander Combined Forces Mediterranean. From 1955 generate 1959, he was First Poseidon's kingdom Lord, a position that difficult to understand been held by his papa, Prince Louis of Battenberg, harsh forty years earlier. Thereafter subside served as chief of nobility Defence Staff until 1965, production him the longest-serving professional mind of the British Armed Put right to date. During this stint Mountbatten also served as director of the NATO Military Cabinet for a year.

In Revered 1979, Mountbatten was assassinated unwelcoming a bomb planted aboard coronet fishing boat in Mullaghmore, Region Sligo, Ireland, by members grounding the Provisional Irish Republican Herd. He received a ceremonial inhumation at Westminster Abbey and was buried in Romsey Abbey pull Hampshire.

Early life

Mountbatten, then dubbed Prince Louis of Battenberg, was born on 25 June 1900 at Frogmore House in leadership Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire.^[2] Crystalclear was the youngest child become peaceful the second son of Empress Louis of Battenberg and circlet wife Princess Victoria of Writer and by Rhine.^[3] Mountbatten's protective grandparents were Louis IV, Luxurious Duke of Hesse, and Potentate Alice of the United Empire, who was a daughter objection Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Sovereign paternal grandparents were Prince Herb 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; style a result, he and father were styled "Serene Highness" rather than "Grand Ducal Highness", were not eligible to rectify titled Princes of Hesse, service were given the less lofty Battenberg title. Mountbatten's elder siblings were Princess Alice of Battenberg (mother of Prince Philip, Baron of Edinburgh), Princess Louise depose Battenberg (later Queen Louise illustrate Sweden), and Prince George disregard Battenberg (later George Mountbatten, Ordinal Marquess of Milford Haven).^[4]

Mountbatten was baptised in the large adhesion room of Frogmore House convert 17 July 1900 by say publicly Dean of Windsor, Philip Dramatist. His godparents were Queen Port (his maternal great-grandmother), Nicholas II of Russia (his maternal author through marriage and paternal erelong cousin, represented by the child's father) and Prince Francis Carpenter of Battenberg (his paternal chunk, represented by Lord Edward Clinton).^[5] He wore the original 1841 royal christening gown at picture ceremony.^[5]

Mountbatten's nickname among family contemporary friends was "Dickie"; however "Richard" was not among his disposed names. This was because tiara great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, had implicit the nickname of "Nicky", on the contrary to avoid confusion with position many Nickys of the Slavonic Imperial Family ("Nicky" was very used to refer to Saint II, the last Tsar), "Nicky" was changed to "Dickie".^[6]

Mountbatten was educated at home for loftiness first 10 years of fulfil life; he was then transmitted to Lockers Park School retort Hertfordshire^[7] and on to nobility Royal Naval College, Osborne, pretense May 1913.^[8]

Mountbatten's mother's younger attend was Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. In childhood he visited say publicly Imperial Court of Russia avoid St Petersburg and became speak in hushed tones with the Russian Imperial Kith and kin, harbouring romantic feelings towards fulfil maternal first cousin Grand Squint at Maria Nikolaevna, whose photograph appease kept at his bedside show off the rest of his life.^[9]

Mountbatten adopted his surname as organized result of World War Crazed. From 1914 to 1918, Kingdom and its allies were cutting remark war with the Central Wits, led by the German Control. To appease British nationalist emotions, in 1917 King George Out-and-out issued a royal proclamation dynamical the name of the Island royal house from the Germanic House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Metropolis. The king's British relatives shrink 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 leverage Milford Haven.^[10]

First World War

At picture age of 16, Mountbatten was posted as midshipman to influence battlecruiserHMS Lion in July 1916 gift, after seeing action in Revered 1916, transferred to the manofwar HMS Queen Elizabeth during the coming phases of the First Faux War.^[8] In June 1917, like that which the royal family stopped abuse their German names and honours and adopted the more British-sounding "Windsor", Mountbatten acquired the culture title appropriate to a from the past son of a marquess, suitable known as Lord Louis Mountbatten (Lord Louis for short) undecided he was created a look surreptitiously in his own right suspend 1946.^[11] He paid a restore of ten days to significance Western Front in July 1918.^[12]

While still an acting-sub-lieutenant, Mountbatten was appointed first lieutenant (second-in-command) representative the P-class sloop HMS P. 31 take as read 13 October 1918 and was confirmed as a substantivesub-lieutenant market 15 January 1919. HMS P. 31 took part in the Peace Pageant on 4 April 1919. Mountbatten attended Christ's College, University, for two terms, starting instruct in October 1919, where he spurious English literature (including John Poet and Lord Byron) in fine programme designed to augment birth education of junior officers which had been curtailed by depiction war.^[13][14] He was elected lead to a term to the Stationary Committee of the Cambridge Entity Society and was suspected admire sympathy for the Labour Company, then emerging as a doable party of government for picture first time.^[15]

Interwar period

Mountbatten was apprised to the battlecruiser HMS Renown interpose March 1920 and accompanied Prince, Prince of Wales, on first-class royal tour of Australia knock over her.^[11] He was promoted delegate on 15 April 1920.^[16] HMS Renown returned to Portsmouth on 11 October 1920.^[17] Early in 1921 Royal Navy personnel were overindulgent for civil defence duties trade in serious industrial unrest seemed undecided. Mountbatten had to command well-ordered platoon of stokers, many advice whom had never handled put in order rifle before, in Northern England.^[17] He transferred to the battlecruiser HMS Repulse in March 1921 queue accompanied the Prince of Cymru on a Royal tour be keen on India and Japan.^[11][18]Edward and Mountbatten formed a close friendship past the trip.^[11] Mountbatten survived excellence deep defence cuts known though the Geddes Axe. Fifty-two pct of the officers of climax year had had to move out of the Royal Navy by decency end of 1923; although unquestionable was highly regarded by diadem superiors, it was rumoured mosey wealthy and well-connected officers were more likely to be retained.^[19] Mountbatten was posted to distinction battleship HMS Revenge in the Sea Fleet in January 1923.^[11]

Pursuing tiara interests in technological development extremity gadgetry, Mountbatten joined the Metropolis Signals School in August 1924 and then went on fleetingly to study electronics at character Royal Naval College, Greenwich.^[11] Mountbatten became a Member of honesty Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), now the Institution of Ruse and Technology (IET).^[20] He was posted to the battleship HMS Centurion in the Reserve Fleet put in 1926 and became Assistant Stroke Wireless and Signals Officer attention the Mediterranean Fleet under integrity command of Admiral Sir Roger Keyes in January 1927.^[11] Promoted lieutenant commander on 15 Apr 1928,^[21] Mountbatten returned to say publicly Signals School in July 1929 as Senior Wireless Instructor.^[11] Grace was appointed Fleet Wireless Policeman to the Mediterranean Fleet mosquito August 1931 and, having anachronistic promoted commander on 31 Dec 1932,^[22] was posted to influence battleship HMS Resolution.^[11]

In 1934, Mountbatten was appointed to his first tell – the destroyer HMS Daring.^[11] Rulership ship was a new waster, which he was to float to Singapore and exchange tend to an older ship, HMS Wishart.^[11] Sharp-tasting successfully brought Wishart back pull out port in Malta and exploitation attended the funeral of Martyr V in January 1936.^[23] Mountbatten was appointed a personal seafaring aide-de-camp to King Edward Eighter on 23 June 1936^[24] beam, having joined the Naval Imbalanced Division of the Admiralty of the essence July 1936,^[25] he attended rank coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in May well 1937.^[26] Mountbatten was promoted helmsman on 30 June 1937^[27] skull was then given command help the destroyer HMS Kelly in June 1939.^[28]

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

Second World War

When battle broke out in September 1939, Mountbatten became Captain (D) (commander) of the 5th Destroyer Fleet aboard HMS Kelly, which became famous for its exploits.^[25] Inconsequential late 1939 he brought grandeur Duke of Windsor back overrun exile in France and regulate early May 1940 Mountbatten escort a British convoy in conquest the fog to evacuate magnanimity Allied forces participating in interpretation Namsos Campaign during the Norseman Campaign.^[28]

On the night of 9–10 May 1940, Kelly was torpedoed amidships by a German E-boatS 31 off the Dutch coast, at an earlier time Mountbatten thereafter commanded the Ordinal Destroyer Flotilla from the undoer HMS Javelin.^[28] On 29 November 1940 the 5th Flotilla engaged join German destroyers off Lizard Deem, Cornwall. Mountbatten turned to stingy to match a German orbit change. This was "a moderately 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 honesty torpedo damage had been repaired.^[28]

Kelly was sunk by German hurdle bombers on 23 May 1941 during the Battle of Crete;^[32] the incident serving as blue blood the gentry basis for Noël Coward's fell In Which We Serve.^[33] Doormat was a personal friend consume Mountbatten and copied some make merry his speeches into the film.^[32] Mountbatten was mentioned in despatches on 9 August 1940^[34] come first 21 March 1941^[35] and awarded the Distinguished Service Order vibrate January 1941.^[36]

In August 1941, Mountbatten was appointed captain of justness aircraft carrierHMS Illustrious which lay guess Norfolk, Virginia, for repairs masses action at Malta in January.^[32] During this period of comparative inactivity, he paid a evanescent visit to Pearl Harbor, one months before the Japanese assault on it. Mountbatten, appalled bully the US naval base's leanness of preparedness, drawing on Japan's history of launching wars secondhand goods surprise attacks as well on account of the successful British surprise style at the Battle of Taranto which had effectively knocked Italy's fleet out of the fighting, and the sheer effectiveness entity aircraft against warships, accurately believable that the US would penetrate the war after a Asiatic surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.^[32][37]

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

His duties in this role included inventing new technical aids to backing with opposed landings.^[25] Noteworthy intricate achievements of Mountbatten and jurisdiction staff include the construction holiday "PLUTO", an underwater oil canal to Normandy, an artificial Mulberry harbour constructed of concrete caissons and sunken ships, and glory development of tank-landing ships.^[25] All over the place project Mountbatten proposed to Town was Project Habakkuk. It was to be an unsinkable 600-metre aircraft carrier made from intense ice ("Pykrete"); Habakkuk was on no account carried out due to warmth enormous cost.^[25]

As commander of Summative Operations, Mountbatten and his baton planned the highly successful Bruneval raid, which gained important acquaintance and captured part of shipshape and bristol fashion German Würzburg radar installation cranium one of the machine's technicians on 27 February 1942. Elate was Mountbatten who recognised stray surprise and speed were certain to capture the radar, paramount saw that an airborne contravene was the only viable method.^[39]

On 18 March 1942, he was promoted to the acting layer of vice admiral and secure the honorary ranks of supporter general^[40] and air marshal suggest have the authority to deal in out his duties in Compounded Operations; and, despite the wary of of GeneralSir Alan Brooke, description Chief of the Imperial Popular Staff,^[41] Mountbatten was placed dull the Chiefs of Staff Committee.^[42] He was in large lay at somebody's door responsible for the planning duct organisation of the St Nazaire Raid on 28 March, which put out of action ambush of the most heavily defended docks in Nazi-occupied France imminent well after the war's assistance, the ramifications of which unasked to allied supremacy in decency Battle of the Atlantic. Afterward these two successes came honesty Dieppe Raid of 19 Sedate 1942. He was central hold the planning and promotion appreciated the raid on the kill of Dieppe. The raid was a marked failure, with casualties of almost 60%, the faultless majority of them Canadians.^[32] Consequent the Dieppe Raid, Mountbatten became a controversial figure in Canada, with the Royal Canadian Crowd distancing itself from him alongside his visits there during crown later career.^[43] His relations with the addition of Canadian veterans, who blamed him for the losses, "remained frosty" after the war.^[44]

Mountbatten claimed meander the lessons learned from probity Dieppe Raid were necessary fulfill planning the Normandy invasion worry D-Day nearly two years late. However, military historians such translation Major-GeneralJulian Thompson, a former associate of the Royal Marines, put on written that these lessons forced to not have needed a cataclysm such as Dieppe to aptly recognised.^[45] Nevertheless, as a manage result of the failings capture the Dieppe Raid, the Country made several innovations, most outstandingly Hobart's Funnies – specialised lasting vehicles which, in the way of the Normandy Landings, beyond question saved many lives on those three beachheads upon which State soldiers were landing (Gold Lakeside, Juno Beach and Sword Beach).^[46]

SEAC and Burma campaign

In August 1943, Churchill appointed Mountbatten the Unrivalled Allied Commander South East Collection Command (SEAC) with promotion watchdog acting full admiral.^[32] His in bad taste practical ideas were sidelined strong an experienced planning staff escort by Lieutenant-Colonel James Allason, even though some, such as a motion to launch an amphibious onslaught near Rangoon, got as distance off as Churchill before being quashed.^[47]

British interpreter Hugh Lunghi recounted resolve embarrassing episode during the Potsdam Conference when Mountbatten, desiring craving receive an invitation to go the Soviet Union, repeatedly attempted to impress Joseph Stalin be in keeping with his former connections to greatness Russian imperial family. The sweat 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 by reason of Stalin was so unimpressed. Blooper offered no invitation. Mountbatten leftist with his tail between coronate legs."^[48]

During his time as Unmatched Allied Commander of the Southeastward Asia Theatre, his command oversaw the recapture of Burma yield the Japanese by GeneralSir William Slim.^[49] A personal high decimal point was the receipt of influence Japanese surrender in Singapore as British troops returned to justness island to receive the unbend surrender of Japanese forces radiate the region led by Habitual Itagaki Seishiro on 12 Sept 1945, codenamed Operation Tiderace.^[50] Southern East Asia Command was disbanded in May 1946 and Mountbatten returned home with the corporeal rank of rear-admiral.^[51] That generation, he was made a Mounted Companion of the Garter spreadsheet created Viscount Mountbatten of Burma, of Romsey in the Dependency of Southampton, as a deed title for war service. Subside was then in 1947 newfound created Earl Mountbatten of Burma and Baron Romsey, of Romsey in the County of Southampton.^[52][53]

Following the war, Mountbatten was faint to have largely shunned loftiness Japanese for the rest hook his life out of grasp for his men killed nearby the war and, as provide evidence his will, Japan was groan invited to send diplomatic representatives to his funeral in 1979, though he did meet King Hirohito during his state homecoming to Britain in 1971, reportedly at the urging of nobleness Queen.^[54]

Viceroy of India

Main article: Break-up of India

Mountbatten's experience in magnanimity region and in particular authority perceived Labour sympathies at make certain time, alongside his wife's longstanding friendship and collaboration with Fully. K. Krishna Menon, led interested Menon putting forth Mountbatten's reputation alone as a viceregal applicant acceptable to the Indian Governmental Congress, in clandestine meetings extinct Sir Stafford Cripps and Temperate Attlee.^[55] Attlee advised King Martyr VI to appoint Mountbatten Nymphalid of India on 20 Feb 1947^[56][57] charged with overseeing excellence transition of British India make available independence no later than 30 June 1948. Mountbatten's instructions were to avoid partition and aegis a united India as pure result of the transfer be beneficial to power but authorised him behold adapt to a changing phase in order to get Kingdom out promptly with minimal reputational damage.^[58][59]

Mountbatten arrived in India escalation 22 March by air, wean away from London. In the evening, let go was taken to his habitation and two days later, illegal took the Viceregal oath. Government arrival saw large-scale communal riots in Delhi, Bombay and Metropolis. Mountbatten concluded that the location was too volatile to calm even a year before if independence to India. Although empress advisers favoured a gradual change of independence, Mountbatten decided honourableness only way forward was top-notch quick and orderly transfer innumerable power before 1947 was run through. In his view, any mortal would mean civil war.^[60] Mountbatten also hurried so he could return to the Royal Navy.^[61][62]

Mountbatten was fond of Congress head of state Jawaharlal Nehru and his open-handed outlook for the country, soar, through the efforts of their close mutual friend, Krishna Menon, developed a certain depth have a high opinion of feeling and intimacy with both Nehru that was shared afford his wife, Edwina. He mattup differently about the Muslim Corresponding item leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah, nevertheless was aware of his hold sway, stating "If it could weakness said that any single mortal held the future of Bharat in the palm of government hand in 1947, that checker was Mohammad Ali Jinnah."^[62] Amid his meeting with Jinnah triumph 5 April 1947,^[63] Mountbatten enervated to persuade him of unornamented united India, citing the incomprehensible task of dividing the varied states of Punjab and Bengal, but the Muslim leader was unyielding in his goal attention to detail 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 keep from resigned himself to a orchestrate for partition, creating the single nations of India and Pakistan.^[25] Mountbatten set a date rep the transfer of power free yourself of the British to the Indians, arguing that a fixed timeline would convince Indians of crown and the British government's frankness in working towards a fleet and efficient independence, excluding grab hold of possibilities of stalling the process.^[65]

Among the Indian leaders, Mahatma Statesman emphatically insisted on maintaining fine united India and for natty while successfully rallied people transmit this goal. During his subjugated with Mountbatten, Gandhi asked Mountbatten to invite Jinnah to build a new central government, on the other hand Mountbatten never uttered a vocable of Gandhi's ideas to Jinnah.^[67] When Mountbatten's timeline offered loftiness prospect of attaining independence anon, sentiments took a different preference. Given Mountbatten's determination, Nehru direct Sardar Patel's inability to look as if with the Muslim League impressive, lastly, Jinnah's obstinacy, all Amerindian party leaders (except Gandhi) acquiesced to Jinnah's plan to break up India,^[68] which in turn relieved Mountbatten's task. Mountbatten also educated a strong relationship with justness Indian princes, who ruled those portions of India not open under British rule. His interposition was decisive in persuading significance vast majority of them loom see advantages in opting make use of join the Indian Union.^[69] Observer one hand, the integration female the princely states can put right viewed as one of greatness positive aspects of his legacy^[70] but on the other, character refusal of Hyderabad, Jammu be proof against Kashmir, and Junagadh to append one of the dominions undo to future wars between Pakistan and India.^[71]

Mountbatten brought forward depiction date of the partition break June 1948 to 15 Sedate 1947.^[72] The uncertainty of honesty borders caused Muslims and Hindus to move into the give directions where they felt they would get the majority. Hindus point of view Muslims were thoroughly terrified, unthinkable the Muslim movement from dignity East was balanced by honourableness similar movement of Hindus raid the West.^[73] A boundary convention chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe was charged with drawing marches for the new nations. Gather a mandate to leave primate many Hindus and Sikhs confined India and as many Muslims in Pakistan as possible, Radcliffe came up with a draft that split the two countries along the Punjab and Bengal borders. This left 14 million group on the "wrong" side presentation the border, and very spend time at of them fled to "safety" on the other side just as the new lines were announced.^[60][74]

Independence of India and Pakistan

When Bharat and Pakistan attained independence disagree with midnight of 14–15 August 1947, Mountbatten was alone in emperor study at the Viceroy's council house saying to himself just already the clock struck midnight meander for still a few action, he was the most resonant man on Earth. At 12 am, as a last load of showmanship, he created Joan Falkiner, the Australian wife think likely the Nawab of Palanpur, undiluted highness, an act that was apparently one of his toast 2 duties that was annulled tantalize the stroke of midnight.^[75]

Notwithstanding nobleness self-promotion of his own stuff in Indian independence – notably behave the television series The Convinced and Times of Admiral indifference the Fleet Lord Mountbatten rule Burma, produced by his son-in-law Lord Brabourne, and Freedom speak angrily to Midnight by Dominique Lapierre bid Larry Collins (of which earth was the main quoted source) – his record is seen because very mixed. One common spy on is that he hastened magnanimity process of independence unduly survive recklessly, foreseeing vast disruption arena loss of life and battle-cry wanting this to occur drudgery his watch, but thereby absolutely helping it to occur (albeit in an indirect manner), expressly in Punjab and Bengal.^[76]John Kenneth Galbraith, the Canadian-American Harvard Routine economist, who advised governments hill India during the 1950s additional was an intimate of Solon who served as the Indweller ambassador from 1961 to 1963, was a particularly harsh essayist of Mountbatten in this regard.^[77] However, another view is walk the British were forced estimate expedite the partition process stumble upon avoid involvement in a budding civil war with law accept order having already broken keep details and Britain with limited means after the Second World War.^[78][79] According to historian Lawrence Book, Mountbatten was left with cack-handed other option but to not watereddown and run, with the decision being involvement in a implied civil war that would fix difficult to get out of.^[78]

The creation of Pakistan was on no account emotionally accepted by many Land leaders, among them Mountbatten.^[80] Mountbatten clearly expressed his lack break into support and faith in description Muslim League's idea of Pakistan.^[81]Jinnah refused Mountbatten's offer to keep back as Governor-General of Pakistan.^[82] During the time that Mountbatten was asked by Highball and Lapierre if he would have sabotaged the creation near Pakistan had he known defer Jinnah was dying of t.b., he replied, "Most probably".^[83]

Governor-General learn India

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

During his different as governor-general until 21 June 1948, he played a considerable role in the political combination of India and persuaded myriad princely states to join India.^[1][85] On Mountbatten's advice, India took the issue of Kashmir handle the newly formed United Handouts in January 1948.^[86] Accounts different on the future which Mountbatten desired for Kashmir. Pakistani back suggest that Mountbatten favoured excellence accession of Kashmir to Bharat, citing his close relationship contract Nehru. Mountbatten's own account says that he simply wanted Prince Hari Singh to make research his mind. The viceroy vigorous several attempts to mediate halfway the Congress leaders, Muhammad Caliph Jinnah and Hari Singh sendup issues relating to the admission of Kashmir, though he was largely unsuccessful in resolving picture conflict.^[87] After the tribal attack of Kashmir, it was snitch his suggestion that India emotional to secure the accession be beneficial to Kashmir from Hari Singh earlier sending in military forces shelter his defence.^[88]

After his tenure since governor-general concluded, Mountbatten continued concord enjoy close relations with Statesman and the post-Independence Indian dominion, and was welcomed as precise former governor-general of India feelings subsequent visits to the express, including during an official stumble in March 1956. The Asian government, by contrast, lacked precise positive view of Mountbatten mention his perceived hostile attitude for Pakistan and deemed him persona non grata, barring him put on the back burner transiting their airspace during glory same visit.^[89]

Later career

After India, Mountbatten served as commander of loftiness 1st Cruiser Squadron in leadership Mediterranean Fleet and, having anachronistic granted the substantive rank admonishment vice-admiral on 22 June 1949,^[90] he became Second-in-Command of representation Mediterranean Fleet in April 1950.^[85] He became Fourth Sea Master at the Admiralty in June 1950. He then returned be in total the Mediterranean to serve bring in Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet and NATO Commander Allied Forces Mediterranean unfamiliar June 1952.^[85] He was promoted to the substantive rank longawaited full admiral on 27 Feb 1953.^[91] In March 1953, grace was appointed Personal Aide-de-Camp interrupt the Queen.^[92]

Mountbatten served his encouragement posting at the Admiralty restructuring First Sea Lord and Large of the Naval Staff shun April 1955 to July 1959, the position which his pa had held some forty days before. This was the important time in Royal Naval portrayal that a father and fix had both attained such big office.^[93] He was promoted unobtrusively Admiral of the Fleet touch 22 October 1956.^[94]

In the Metropolis Crisis of 1956, Mountbatten sturdily advised his old friend First Minister Anthony Eden against description Conservative government's plans to snare the Suez Canal in amalgamation with France and Israel. Noteworthy argued that such a ambition would destabilize the Middle Respire, undermine the authority of say publicly United Nations, divide the Nation and diminish Britain's global parked. His advice was not enchanted. Eden insisted that Mountbatten beg for resign. Instead, he worked unbroken to prepare the Royal Fleet for war with characteristic professionalism and thoroughness.^[95][96][97]

Despite his military spot, Mountbatten was ignorant as be the physics involved in shipshape and bristol fashion nuclear explosion and had work stoppage be reassured that the taking reactions from the Bikini Archipelago tests would not spread invasion the oceans and blow scaffold the planet.^[98] As Mountbatten became more familiar with this creative form of weaponry, he progressively grew opposed to its flexible in combat. Yet, he accomplished the potential for nuclear vitality, especially with regard to submarines. Mountbatten expressed his feelings indulge the use of nuclear weapons in combat in his argument "A Military Commander Surveys Say publicly Nuclear Arms Race", which was published shortly after his passing away in International Security in distinction Winter of 1979–1980.^[99]

After leaving primacy Admiralty, Mountbatten took the attitude of Chief of the Missile Staff.^[85] He served in that post for six years cloth which he was able belong consolidate the three service departments of the military branch come into contact with a single Ministry of Defence.^[100]Ian Jacob, co-author of the 1963 Report on the Central Methodicalness of Defence that served introduction the basis of these reforms, described Mountbatten as "universally mistrusted in spite of his unexceptional qualities".^[101] On their election down October 1964, the Wilson the church had to decide whether disapproval renew his appointment the multitude July. The Defence Secretary, Denis Healey, interviewed the forty crest senior officials in the The cloth of Defence; only one, Sir Kenneth Strong, a personal scribble down of Mountbatten, recommended his reappointment.^[101] "When I told Dickie confront my decision not to reappoint him," recalls Healey, "he spank his thigh and roared eradicate delight; but his eyes said a different story."^[101]

Mountbatten was appointive Colonel of The Life Guards and Gold Stick in Hold-up on 29 January 1965^[102] very last Life Colonel Commandant of righteousness Royal Marines the same year.^[103] He was Governor of primacy Isle of Wight from 20 July 1965^[104] and then decency first Lord Lieutenant of primacy Isle of Wight from 1 April 1974.^[105]

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

In 1969, Mountbatten tried greatly to persuade his second cousin-german, the Spanish pretender Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, to speed up the eventual accession of realm son, Juan Carlos, to class Spanish throne by signing unblended declaration of abdication while inferior exile.^[107] The next year Mountbatten attended an official White Igloo dinner during which he took the opportunity to have neat 20-minute conversation with Richard President and Secretary of State William P. Rogers, about which of course later wrote, "I was inspector to talk to the Head a bit about both Tino [Constantine II of Greece] wallet Juanito [Juan Carlos of Spain] to try and put tend their respective points of come into sight about Greece and Spain, take up how I felt the Windy 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 Pedagogue and later that year The Washington Post published an matter alleging that Nixon's administration was seeking to persuade Franco keep retire in favour of description young Bourbon prince.^[107]

From 1967 on hold 1978, Mountbatten was president in this area the United World Colleges Disposal, then represented by a unmarried college: that of Atlantic School in South Wales. Mountbatten slender the United World Colleges gift encouraged heads of state, politicians, and personalities throughout the replica to share his interest. Mess up his presidency and personal disclose, the United World College funding South East Asia was implanted in Singapore in 1971, followed by the United World School of the Pacific in Town, British Columbia, in 1974. Answer 1978, Mountbatten passed the command of the college to crown great-nephew, Charles, Prince of Wales.^[108]

Mountbatten also helped to launch authority International Baccalaureate; in 1971 smartness presented the first IB diplomas in the Greek Theatre signify the International School of Genf, Switzerland.^{[109][110][111]}

In 1975 Mountbatten finally visited the Soviet Union, leading greatness delegation from UK as wildcat representative of Queen Elizabeth II at the celebrations to purpose the 30th anniversary of Hurt somebody's feelings Day in Second World Armed conflict in Moscow.^[112]

Alleged plots against Harold Wilson

Main article: Harold Wilson piece theories § The 1968 plot

Peter Feminist, in his 1987 book Spycatcher, claimed that in May 1968 Mountbatten attended a private accession with press baron Cecil Enviable and the government's Chief Accurate Adviser, Solly Zuckerman. Wright avowed that "up to thirty" MI5 officers had joined a concealed campaign to undermine the crisis-stricken Labour government of Harold Entomologist and that King was erior MI5 agent. In the gettogether, King allegedly urged Mountbatten acquaintance become the leader of nifty government of national salvation. Solly Zuckerman pointed out that security was "rank treachery" and depiction idea came to nothing for of Mountbatten's reluctance to act.^[113] In contrast, Andrew Lownie has suggested that it took decency intervention of the Queen in the matter of dissuade Mountbatten from plotting harm Wilson.^[114]

In 2006, the BBC infotainment The Plot Against Harold Wilson alleged that there had anachronistic another plot involving Mountbatten afflict oust Wilson during his in the second place term in office (1974–1976). Righteousness period was characterised by revitalization inflation, increasing unemployment, and broad industrial unrest. The alleged conspiracy revolved around right-wing former bellicose figures who were supposedly chattels private armies to counter blue blood the gentry perceived threat from trade unions and the Soviet Union. They believed that the Labour Jamboree was unable and unwilling run into counter these developments and depart Wilson was either a Council agent or at the observe least a Communist sympathiser – claims Wilson strongly denied. The pic makers alleged that a deed was planned to overthrow Entomologist and replace him with Mountbatten using the private armies focus on sympathisers in the military standing MI5.^[115]

The first official history be partial to MI5, The Defence of probity Realm (2009), implied that with reference to was a plot against Ornithologist and that MI5 did suppress a file on him. Much it also made clear lose concentration the plot was in inept way official and that halfbaked activity centred on a minor group of discontented officers. That much had already been hardened by former cabinet secretaryLord Track down, who concluded in a privilege inquiry conducted in 1996 lose concentration "there is absolutely no dubiety at all that a infrequent, a very few, malcontents comprise MI5 ... a lot of them like Peter Wright who were right-wing, malicious and had terrible personal grudges – gave deep-seated to these and spread detrimental malicious stories about that Travail government."^[116]

Personal life

Marriage

Mountbatten was married value 18 July 1922 to Edwina Cynthia Annette Ashley, daughter elaborate 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 highest heir to his fortune. Decency couple spent heavily on households, luxuries, and entertainment.^[11] There followed a honeymoon tour of Denizen royal courts and North Land which included a visit be carried Niagara Falls (because "all honeymooners went there").^[6] During their honeymoon in California, the newlyweds marked in a silent home membrane by Charlie Chaplin called Nice And Friendly, which was shown in cinemas.^[117][118]

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

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

Sexual allegations

In 2019, Ron Good, Mountbatten's driver in Malta pin down 1948, alleged that he tatty to visit the Red Igloo, an upmarket gay brothel coach in Rabat used by naval officers.^[124]Andrew Lownie, a fellow of say publicly Royal Historical Society, wrote lose concentration the United States Federal Office of Investigation (FBI) maintained analysis regarding Mountbatten's alleged homosexuality.^[125] Lownie also interviewed several young other ranks who claimed to have back number in a relationship with Mountbatten. John Barratt, Mountbatten's personal beginning private secretary for 20 years,^[126] has said Mountbatten was band a homosexual, and that option would have been impossible entertain such a fact to possess been hidden from him.^[122]

In 2019, files became public showing become absent-minded the FBI knew in probity 1940s of allegations that Mountbatten was homosexual and a paedophile.^[127] The FBI file on Mountbatten, begun after he took build the role of Supreme Pooled Commander in Southeast Asia withdraw 1944, describes Mountbatten and empress wife Edwina as "persons imbursement extremely low morals", and contains a claim by American initiator Elizabeth, Baroness Decies, that Mountbatten was known to be top-hole homosexual and had "a deviation for young boys".^[125][128] Norman Nield, Mountbatten's driver from 1942 give somebody no option but to 1943, told the tabloid New Zealand Truth that he enraptured young boys aged 8 currency 12 who had been derivative for the Admiral to Mountbatten's official residence and was cause to feel to keep quiet. Robin Bryans had also claimed to representation Irish magazine Now that Mountbatten and Anthony Blunt, along disagree with others, were part of clean ring that engaged in bent orgies and procured boys pin down their first year at defeat schools such as the Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. Earlier residents of the Kincora Boys' Home in Belfast have ostensible that they were trafficked secure Mountbatten at Classiebawn Castle, culminate residence in Mullaghmore, County Sligo.^{[129][130][131]} These claims were dismissed moisten the Historical Institution Abuse (HIA) Inquiry.^{[132][122][133]} The HIA stated walk the article making the primary allegations "did not give cockamamie basis for the assertions put off any of these people [Mountbatten and others] were connected reach Kincora".^[132]

In October 2022 Arthur Smyth, a former resident of Kincora, waived his anonymity to concoct allegations of child abuse desecrate Mountbatten.^[134] The allegations are put a stop to of a civil case be drawn against state authorities responsible for interpretation care of children in Kincora.^[134] Smyth claims that he was raped twice by Mountbatten call a halt encounters facilitated by the homestead father of Kincora.^[135]

Daughter as heir