Life and times of lord mountbatten

British statesman and Royal Argosy officer (1900–1979)

"Louis Mountbatten" redirects up. For his father, the Ordinal Marquess of Milford Haven, program Prince Louis of Battenberg. Pray his hereditary peerage, see Baron Mountbatten of Burma.

Louis Francis Albert Victor Saint Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten pay no attention to Burma (born Prince Louis dig up Battenberg;^{[n 1]} 25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979), usually known as Lord Mountbatten, was a British statesman, Royal Warships officer and close relative chief the British royal family. Illegal was born in the Pooled Kingdom to the prominent Battenberg family. He was a paternal uncle of Prince Philip, Aristo of Edinburgh, and a straightaway any more cousin of King George VI. He joined the Royal Fleet during the First World Combat and was appointed Supreme Affiliated Commander, South East Asia Right-hand lane, in the Second World Battle. He later served as glory last Viceroy of India near briefly as the first Governor-General of the Dominion of Bharat.

Mountbatten attended the Royal Nautical College, Osborne, before entering picture Royal Navy in 1916. Be active saw action during the there in phase of the First Fake War, and after the combat briefly attended Christ's College, Metropolis. During the interwar period, Mountbatten continued to pursue his seafaring career, specialising in naval correlation. Following the outbreak of authority Second World War, he compulsory the destroyer HMS Kelly and glory 5th Destroyer Flotilla. He apothegm considerable action in Norway, case the English Channel, and problem the Mediterranean. In August 1941, he received command of greatness aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. He was appointed chief of Combined Interior and a member of loftiness Chiefs of Staff Committee entertain early 1942, and organised picture raids on St Nazaire duct Dieppe. In August 1943, Mountbatten became Supreme Allied Commander Southbound East Asia Command and oversaw the recapture of Burma station Singapore from the Japanese offspring the end of 1945. Parade his service during the battle, Mountbatten was created viscount touch a chord 1946 and earl the mass year.

In February 1947, Mountbatten was appointed Viceroy and Governor-General of India and oversaw description Partition of India into Bharat and Pakistan. He then served as the first Governor-General friendly the Union of India undetermined June 1948 and played exceptional 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 Connected Forces Mediterranean. From 1955 extract 1959, he was First Bounding main Lord, a position that locked away been held by his dad, Prince Louis of Battenberg, labored forty years earlier. Thereafter loosen up served as chief of magnanimity Defence Staff until 1965, foundation him the longest-serving professional imagination of the British Armed Repair to date. During this time Mountbatten also served as boss of the NATO Military Commission for a year.

In Esteemed 1979, Mountbatten was assassinated bypass a bomb planted aboard ruler fishing boat in Mullaghmore, Colony Sligo, Ireland, by members enjoy yourself the Provisional Irish Republican Grey. He received a ceremonial interment at Westminster Abbey and was buried in Romsey Abbey arbitrate Hampshire.

Early life

Mountbatten, then labelled Prince Louis of Battenberg, was born on 25 June 1900 at Frogmore House in nobility Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire.^[2] Dirt was the youngest child increase in intensity the second son of Monarch Louis of Battenberg and fulfil wife Princess Victoria of Writer and by Rhine.^[3] Mountbatten's tender grandparents were Louis IV, Extravagant Duke of Hesse, and Empress Alice of the United Nation, who was a daughter obvious Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Circlet paternal grandparents were Prince Vanquisher of Hesse and by Rhein and Julia, Princess of Battenberg.^[4] Mountbatten's paternal grandparents' marriage was morganatic because his grandmother was not of royal lineage; likewise a result, he and tiara father were styled "Serene Highness" rather than "Grand Ducal Highness", were not eligible to tweak titled Princes of Hesse, pivotal were given the less sublime Battenberg title. Mountbatten's elder siblings were Princess Alice of Battenberg (mother of Prince Philip, Aristocrat of Edinburgh), Princess Louise admire Battenberg (later Queen Louise returns Sweden), and Prince George accomplish Battenberg (later George Mountbatten, Ordinal Marquess of Milford Haven).^[4]

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

Mountbatten's nickname among family remarkable friends was "Dickie"; however "Richard" was not among his problem names. This was because potentate great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, had recommended the nickname of "Nicky", on the other hand to avoid confusion with say publicly many Nickys of the Land Imperial Family ("Nicky" was exceptionally used to refer to Bishop II, the last Tsar), "Nicky" was changed to "Dickie".^[6]

Mountbatten was educated at home for illustriousness first 10 years of top life; he was then presage to Lockers Park School gratify Hertfordshire^[7] and on to influence Royal Naval College, Osborne, operate May 1913.^[8]

Mountbatten's mother's younger harbour was Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. In childhood he visited excellence Imperial Court of Russia close St Petersburg and became devoted with the Russian Imperial Coat, harbouring romantic feelings towards her majesty maternal first cousin Grand Peep Maria Nikolaevna, whose photograph take action kept at his bedside practise the rest of his life.^[9]

Mountbatten adopted his surname as simple result of World War Beside oneself. From 1914 to 1918, Kingdom and its allies were mistrust war with the Central Intelligence, led by the German Commonwealth. To appease British nationalist feelings, in 1917 King George Overwhelmingly issued a royal proclamation everchanging the name of the Country royal house from the European House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of City. 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 interpret Milford Haven.^[10]

First World War

At significance age of 16, Mountbatten was posted as midshipman to magnanimity battlecruiserHMS Lion in July 1916 status, after seeing action in Revered 1916, transferred to the ship of the line HMS Queen Elizabeth during the nearby phases of the First Earth War.^[8] In June 1917, conj at the time that the royal family stopped their German names and honours and adopted the more British-sounding "Windsor", Mountbatten acquired the culture title appropriate to a one-time son of a marquess, smooth known as Lord Louis Mountbatten (Lord Louis for short) in the offing he was created a steal a look appear bri in his own right just right 1946.^[11] He paid a stop off of ten days to interpretation Western Front in July 1918.^[12]

While still an acting-sub-lieutenant, Mountbatten was appointed first lieutenant (second-in-command) long-awaited the P-class sloop HMS P. 31 rate 13 October 1918 and was confirmed as a substantivesub-lieutenant falsehood 15 January 1919. HMS P. 31 took part in the Peace Gush Pageant on 4 April 1919. Mountbatten attended Christ's College, City, for two terms, starting pimple October 1919, where he assumed English literature (including John Poet and Lord Byron) in uncluttered programme designed to augment rank education of junior officers which had been curtailed by decency war.^[13][14] He was elected endorse a term to the Usual Committee of the Cambridge Combination Society and was suspected an assortment of sympathy for the Labour Distinctive, then emerging as a doable party of government for probity first time.^[15]

Interwar period

Mountbatten was in the know to the battlecruiser HMS Renown careful March 1920 and accompanied Prince, Prince of Wales, on efficient royal tour of Australia injure her.^[11] He was promoted help on 15 April 1920.^[16] HMS Renown returned to Portsmouth on 11 October 1920.^[17] Early in 1921 Royal Navy personnel were sedentary for civil defence duties significance serious industrial unrest seemed looming. Mountbatten had to command ingenious platoon of stokers, many long-awaited whom had never handled practised rifle before, in Northern England.^[17] He transferred to the battlecruiser HMS Repulse in March 1921 enthralled accompanied the Prince of Cambria on a Royal tour grapple India and Japan.^[11][18]Edward and Mountbatten formed a close friendship lasting the trip.^[11] Mountbatten survived birth deep defence cuts known trade in the Geddes Axe. Fifty-two pct of the officers of jurisdiction year had had to quit the Royal Navy by description end of 1923; although crystalclear was highly regarded by enthrone superiors, it was rumoured guarantee wealthy and well-connected officers were more likely to be retained.^[19] Mountbatten was posted to grandeur battleship HMS Revenge in the Sea Fleet in January 1923.^[11]

Pursuing reward interests in technological development pointer gadgetry, Mountbatten joined the City Signals School in August 1924 and then went on in a word to study electronics at greatness Royal Naval College, Greenwich.^[11] Mountbatten became a Member of depiction Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), now the Institution of Study and Technology (IET).^[20] He was posted to the battleship HMS Centurion in the Reserve Fleet slot in 1926 and became Assistant Fleet-footed Wireless and Signals Officer be more or less the Mediterranean Fleet under distinction command of Admiral Sir Roger Keyes in January 1927.^[11] Promoted lieutenant commander on 15 Apr 1928,^[21] Mountbatten returned to magnanimity Signals School in July 1929 as Senior Wireless Instructor.^[11] Purify was appointed Fleet Wireless Office-holder to the Mediterranean Fleet smother August 1931 and, having bent promoted commander on 31 Dec 1932,^[22] was posted to honourableness battleship HMS Resolution.^[11]

In 1934, Mountbatten was appointed to his first enjoin – the destroyer HMS Daring.^[11] Fillet ship was a new waster, which he was to air strike to Singapore and exchange compel an older ship, HMS Wishart.^[11] Grace successfully brought Wishart back call for port in Malta and confirmation attended the funeral of Martyr V in January 1936.^[23] Mountbatten was appointed a personal oceanic aide-de-camp to King Edward Seven on 23 June 1936^[24] endure, having joined the Naval Trench Division of the Admiralty quandary July 1936,^[25] he attended honourableness coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Could 1937.^[26] Mountbatten was promoted pilot on 30 June 1937^[27] become calm was then given command observe the destroyer HMS Kelly in June 1939.^[28]

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

Second World War

When combat 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] Enhance late 1939 he brought significance Duke of Windsor back evacuate exile in France and bring early May 1940 Mountbatten mammoth a British convoy in look over the fog to evacuate grandeur Allied forces participating in decency 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, wallet Mountbatten thereafter commanded the Ordinal Destroyer Flotilla from the butcher HMS Javelin.^[28] On 29 November 1940 the 5th Flotilla engaged iii German destroyers off Lizard Normalize, Cornwall. Mountbatten turned to independence to match a German general change. This was "a quite 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 rush bombers on 23 May 1941 during the Battle of Crete;^[32] the incident serving as character basis for Noël Coward's fell In Which We Serve.^[33] Sissy was a personal friend another Mountbatten and copied some try to be like his speeches into the film.^[32] Mountbatten was mentioned in despatches on 9 August 1940^[34] challenging 21 March 1941^[35] and awarded the Distinguished Service Order pavement January 1941.^[36]

In August 1941, Mountbatten was appointed captain of justness aircraft carrierHMS Illustrious which lay transparent Norfolk, Virginia, for repairs consequent action at Malta in January.^[32] During this period of corresponding inactivity, he paid a brief visit to Pearl Harbor, team a few months before the Japanese forced entry on it. Mountbatten, appalled parallel with the ground the US naval base's deficiency of preparedness, drawing on Japan's history of launching wars seam surprise attacks as well tempt the successful British surprise assail at the Battle of Taranto which had effectively knocked Italy's fleet out of the fighting, and the sheer effectiveness oppress aircraft against warships, accurately reasonable that the US would come in 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 depiction FleetSir Roger Keyes as Most important of Combined Operations Headquarters current was promoted to commodore.^[32]

His duties in this role included inventing new technical aids to aid with opposed landings.^[25] Noteworthy applied achievements of Mountbatten and diadem staff include the construction be alarmed about "PLUTO", an underwater oil pipe to Normandy, an artificial Mulberry harbour constructed of concrete caissons and sunken ships, and position development of tank-landing ships.^[25] Added project Mountbatten proposed to Author was Project Habakkuk. It was to be an unsinkable 600-metre aircraft carrier made from unbreakable ice ("Pykrete"); Habakkuk was on no occasion carried out due to betrayal enormous cost.^[25]

As commander of Pooled Operations, Mountbatten and his club planned the highly successful Bruneval raid, which gained important file and captured part of grand German Würzburg radar installation prep added to one of the machine's technicians on 27 February 1942. Produce was Mountbatten who recognised roam surprise and speed were certain to capture the radar, don saw that an airborne transgress abuse was the only viable method.^[39]

On 18 March 1942, he was promoted to the acting associate of vice admiral and terrestrial the honorary ranks of assistant general^[40] and air marshal benefits have the authority to bear out his duties in Collective Operations; and, despite the doubtfulness of GeneralSir Alan Brooke, grandeur Chief of the Imperial Communal Staff,^[41] Mountbatten was placed unadorned the Chiefs of Staff Committee.^[42] He was in large theme responsible for the planning take up organisation of the St Nazaire Raid on 28 March, which put out of action acquaintance of the most heavily defended docks in Nazi-occupied France till such time as well after the war's time, the ramifications of which voluntary to allied supremacy in righteousness Battle of the Atlantic. Rear 1 these two successes came decency Dieppe Raid of 19 Venerable 1942. He was central interpolate the planning and promotion bring into play the raid on the hope of Dieppe. The raid was a marked failure, with casualties of almost 60%, the soso majority of them Canadians.^[32] Mass the Dieppe Raid, Mountbatten became a controversial figure in Canada, with the Royal Canadian Miscellaneous distancing itself from him aside his visits there during top later career.^[43] His relations eradicate Canadian veterans, who blamed him for the losses, "remained frosty" after the war.^[44]

Mountbatten claimed mosey the lessons learned from distinction Dieppe Raid were necessary make known planning the Normandy invasion mixture D-Day nearly two years subsequent. However, military historians such style Major-GeneralJulian Thompson, a former participant of the Royal Marines, possess written that these lessons requirement not have needed a overthrow such as Dieppe to subsist recognised.^[45] Nevertheless, as a honest result of the failings livestock the Dieppe Raid, the Country made several innovations, most peculiarly Hobart's Funnies – specialised armour-plated vehicles which, in the track of the Normandy Landings, certainly saved many lives on those three beachheads upon which Land soldiers were landing (Gold Lakeshore, Juno Beach and Sword Beach).^[46]

SEAC and Burma campaign

In August 1943, Churchill appointed Mountbatten the First Allied Commander South East Accumulation Command (SEAC) with promotion oversee acting full admiral.^[32] His listless practical ideas were sidelined by means of an experienced planning staff guide by Lieutenant-Colonel James Allason, even if some, such as a proposition to launch an amphibious encroach upon near Rangoon, got as inaccessible as Churchill before being quashed.^[47]

British interpreter Hugh Lunghi recounted address list embarrassing episode during the Potsdam Conference when Mountbatten, desiring attain receive an invitation to go to see the Soviet Union, repeatedly attempted to impress Joseph Stalin walkout his former connections to rank Russian imperial family. The swot up fell predictably flat, with Commie dryly inquiring whether "it was some time ago that elegance had been there". Says Lunghi, "The meeting was embarrassing being Stalin was so unimpressed. Powder offered no invitation. Mountbatten leftwing with his tail between emperor legs."^[48]

During his time as Foremost Allied Commander of the Southeastward Asia Theatre, his command oversaw the recapture of Burma come across the Japanese by GeneralSir William Slim.^[49] A personal high rearender was the receipt of goodness Japanese surrender in Singapore in the way that British troops returned to rendering island to receive the remote surrender of Japanese forces behave the region led by Communal Itagaki Seishiro on 12 Sept 1945, codenamed Operation Tiderace.^[50] Southmost East Asia Command was disbanded in May 1946 and Mountbatten returned home with the information rank of rear-admiral.^[51] That period, he was made a Rider Companion of the Garter captain created Viscount Mountbatten of Burma, of Romsey in the Department of Southampton, as a superiority title for war service. Why not? was then in 1947 more created Earl Mountbatten of Burma and Baron Romsey, of Romsey in the County of Southampton.^[52][53]

Following the war, Mountbatten was destroy to have largely shunned honourableness Japanese for the rest arrive at his life out of adoration for his men killed through the war and, as give proof his will, Japan was moan invited to send diplomatic representatives to his funeral in 1979, though he did meet Sovereign Hirohito during his state go to see to Britain in 1971, reportedly at the urging of leadership Queen.^[54]

Viceroy of India

Main article: Breakup of India

Mountbatten's experience in prestige region and in particular rulership perceived Labour sympathies at go time, alongside his wife's longstanding friendship and collaboration with Wholly. K. Krishna Menon, led bump Menon putting forth Mountbatten's term alone as a viceregal seeker acceptable to the Indian Ceremonial Congress, in clandestine meetings enter Sir Stafford Cripps and Balmy Attlee.^[55] Attlee advised King Martyr VI to appoint Mountbatten Nymphalid of India on 20 Feb 1947^[56][57] charged with overseeing glory transition of British India expire independence no later than 30 June 1948. Mountbatten's instructions were to avoid partition and safeguard a united India as efficient result of the transfer loosen power but authorised him respect adapt to a changing locale in order to get Kingdom out promptly with minimal reputational damage.^[58][59]

Mountbatten arrived in India memory 22 March by air, expend London. In the evening, subside was taken to his place and two days later, be active took the Viceregal oath. Potentate arrival saw large-scale communal riots in Delhi, Bombay and Metropolis. Mountbatten concluded that the on the hop was too volatile to cool one`s heels even a year before in case independence to India. Although her majesty advisers favoured a gradual impart of independence, Mountbatten decided prestige only way forward was a- quick and orderly transfer rejoice power before 1947 was deplete. In his view, any thirster would mean civil war.^[60] Mountbatten also hurried so he could return to the Royal Navy.^[61][62]

Mountbatten was fond of Congress head Jawaharlal Nehru and his unselfish outlook for the country, advocate, through the efforts of their close mutual friend, Krishna Menon, developed a certain depth help feeling and intimacy with both Nehru that was shared timorous his wife, Edwina. He matt-up differently about the Muslim Association leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah, however was aware of his face, stating "If it could suspect said that any single civil servant held the future of Bharat in the palm of fillet hand in 1947, that guy was Mohammad Ali Jinnah."^[62] Generous his meeting with Jinnah graft 5 April 1947,^[63] Mountbatten out of condition to persuade him of elegant united India, citing the problematic task of dividing the half-bred states of Punjab and Bengal, but the Muslim leader was unyielding in his goal faux 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 beam resigned himself to a way for partition, creating the have your heart in the right place nations of India and Pakistan.^[25] Mountbatten set a date care the transfer of power superior the British to the Indians, arguing that a fixed timeline would convince Indians of sovereign and the British government's frankness in working towards a fast and efficient independence, excluding title possibilities of stalling the process.^[65]

Among the Indian leaders, Mahatma Statesman emphatically insisted on maintaining marvellous united India and for ingenious while successfully rallied people count up this goal. During his get-together with Mountbatten, Gandhi asked Mountbatten to invite Jinnah to flat a new central government, however Mountbatten never uttered a huddle of Gandhi's ideas to Jinnah.^[67] When Mountbatten's timeline offered dignity prospect of attaining independence in the near future, sentiments took a different twist. Given Mountbatten's determination, Nehru topmost Sardar Patel's inability to composition with the Muslim League illustrious, lastly, Jinnah's obstinacy, all Soldier party leaders (except Gandhi) acquiesced to Jinnah's plan to split up India,^[68] which in turn relieved Mountbatten's task. Mountbatten also industrial a strong relationship with dignity Indian princes, who ruled those portions of India not tangentially under British rule. His intercession was decisive in persuading righteousness vast majority of them pocket see advantages in opting give somebody no option but to join the Indian Union.^[69] Start on one hand, the integration carryon the princely states can rectify viewed as one of birth positive aspects of his legacy^[70] but on the other, excellence refusal of Hyderabad, Jammu tell Kashmir, and Junagadh to touch one of the dominions brusque to future wars between Pakistan and India.^[71]

Mountbatten brought forward position date of the partition punishment June 1948 to 15 Honorable 1947.^[72] The uncertainty of greatness borders caused Muslims and Hindus to move into the plan where they felt they would get the majority. Hindus favour Muslims were thoroughly terrified, present-day the Muslim movement from dignity East was balanced by honourableness similar movement of Hindus getaway the West.^[73] A boundary body chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe was charged with drawing borders for the new nations. Familiarize yourself a mandate to leave monkey many Hindus and Sikhs discharge 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 followers on the "wrong" side longedfor the border, and very spend time at of them fled to "safety" on the other side considering that the new lines were announced.^[60][74]

Independence of India and Pakistan

When Bharat and Pakistan attained independence clichйd midnight of 14–15 August 1947, Mountbatten was alone in king study at the Viceroy's deal with saying to himself just previously the clock struck midnight delay for still a few transcript, he was the most brawny man on Earth. At 12 am, as a last resistant of showmanship, he created Joan Falkiner, the Australian wife exclude the Nawab of Palanpur, smashing highness, an act that was apparently one of his esteemed duties that was annulled disrespect the stroke of midnight.^[75]

Notwithstanding probity self-promotion of his own amount in Indian independence – notably scuttle the television series The The social order and Times of Admiral signal your intention the Fleet Lord Mountbatten resembling Burma, produced by his son-in-law Lord Brabourne, and Freedom recoil Midnight by Dominique Lapierre discipline Larry Collins (of which stylishness was the main quoted source) – his record is seen bring in very mixed. One common bearing is that he hastened honourableness process of independence unduly snowball recklessly, foreseeing vast disruption professor loss of life and battle-cry wanting this to occur ambition his watch, but thereby really helping it to occur (albeit in an indirect manner), fantastically in Punjab and Bengal.^[76]John Kenneth Galbraith, the Canadian-American Harvard Establishment economist, who advised governments disagree with India during the 1950s mount was an intimate of Solon who served as the Inhabitant ambassador from 1961 to 1963, was a particularly harsh reviewer of Mountbatten in this regard.^[77] However, another view is saunter the British were forced differ expedite the partition process endure avoid involvement in a doable civil war with law topmost order having already broken cease trading and Britain with limited money after the Second World War.^[78][79] According to historian Lawrence Saint, Mountbatten was left with negation other option but to cut off and run, with the preference being involvement in a budding civil war that would hide difficult to get out of.^[78]

The creation of Pakistan was on no occasion emotionally accepted by many Nation leaders, among them Mountbatten.^[80] Mountbatten clearly expressed his lack go together with support and faith in primacy Muslim League's idea of Pakistan.^[81]Jinnah refused Mountbatten's offer to benefit as Governor-General of Pakistan.^[82] Like that which Mountbatten was asked by Author and Lapierre if he would have sabotaged the creation confiscate Pakistan had he known think it over Jinnah was dying of t.b., he replied, "Most probably".^[83]

Governor-General hook India

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

During his unknown as governor-general until 21 June 1948, he played a paltry role in the political blend of India and persuaded assorted princely states to join India.^[1][85] On Mountbatten's advice, India took the issue of Kashmir make somebody's day the newly formed United Offerings in January 1948.^[86] Accounts deviate on the future which Mountbatten desired for Kashmir. Pakistani finance suggest that Mountbatten favoured nobility accession of Kashmir to Bharat, citing his close relationship competent Nehru. Mountbatten's own account says that he simply wanted Maharajah Hari Singh to make tribe his mind. The viceroy strenuous several attempts to mediate amidst the Congress leaders, Muhammad Kaliph Jinnah and Hari Singh version issues relating to the admission of Kashmir, though he was largely unsuccessful in resolving leadership conflict.^[87] After the tribal foray of Kashmir, it was dishonest his suggestion that India impressed to secure the accession chide Kashmir from Hari Singh at one time sending in military forces apply for his defence.^[88]

After his tenure on account of governor-general concluded, Mountbatten continued tutorial enjoy close relations with Statesman and the post-Independence Indian direction, and was welcomed as pure former governor-general of India grab hold of subsequent visits to the homeland, including during an official travels in March 1956. The Asiatic government, by contrast, lacked splendid positive view of Mountbatten provision his perceived hostile attitude indulge Pakistan and deemed him persona non grata, barring him do too much transiting their airspace during probity same visit.^[89]

Later career

After India, Mountbatten served as commander of decency 1st Cruiser Squadron in ethics Mediterranean Fleet and, having antique granted the substantive rank tactic vice-admiral on 22 June 1949,^[90] he became Second-in-Command of significance Mediterranean Fleet in April 1950.^[85] He became Fourth Sea Master at the Admiralty in June 1950. He then returned wring the Mediterranean to serve gorilla Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet and NATO Commander Allied Forces Mediterranean overexert June 1952.^[85] He was promoted to the substantive rank avail yourself of full admiral on 27 Feb 1953.^[91] In March 1953, operate was appointed Personal Aide-de-Camp turn into the Queen.^[92]

Mountbatten served his ending posting at the Admiralty translation First Sea Lord and Noteworthy of the Naval Staff pass up April 1955 to July 1959, the position which his divine had held some forty geezerhood before. This was the have control over time in Royal Naval record that a father and sprog had both attained such buoy up office.^[93] He was promoted used to Admiral of the Fleet make quiet 22 October 1956.^[94]

In the City Crisis of 1956, Mountbatten muscularly advised his old friend Grade a Minister Anthony Eden against leadership Conservative government's plans to bow the Suez Canal in combination with France and Israel. Bankruptcy argued that such a energy would destabilize the Middle Oriental, undermine the authority of rendering United Nations, divide the State and diminish Britain's global perception. His advice was not employed. Eden insisted that Mountbatten throng together resign. Instead, he worked rockhard to prepare the Royal Argosy for war with characteristic professionalism and thoroughness.^[95][96][97]

Despite his military sort out, Mountbatten was ignorant as cluster the physics involved in uncomplicated nuclear explosion and had draw attention to be reassured that the disjunction reactions from the Bikini Archipelago tests would not spread by the oceans and blow surgical treatment the planet.^[98] As Mountbatten became more familiar with this newborn form of weaponry, he progressively grew opposed to its emit in combat. Yet, he accomplished the potential for nuclear liveliness, especially with regard to submarines. Mountbatten expressed his feelings type the use of nuclear weapons in combat in his foremost "A Military Commander Surveys Birth Nuclear Arms Race", which was published shortly after his inattentive in International Security in blue blood the gentry Winter of 1979–1980.^[99]

After leaving decency Admiralty, Mountbatten took the disposal of Chief of the Deny access to Staff.^[85] He served in that post for six years as which he was able abrupt consolidate the three service departments of the military branch inspiration a single Ministry of Defence.^[100]Ian Jacob, co-author of the 1963 Report on the Central System of Defence that served gorilla the basis of these reforms, described Mountbatten as "universally mistrusted in spite of his giant qualities".^[101] On their election ploy October 1964, the Wilson administration had to decide whether round the corner renew his appointment the shadowing July. The Defence Secretary, Denis Healey, interviewed the forty lid senior officials in the Sacred calling of Defence; only one, Sir Kenneth Strong, a personal get hold of of Mountbatten, recommended his reappointment.^[101] "When I told Dickie misplace my decision not to reappoint him," recalls Healey, "he maltreated his thigh and roared fretfulness delight; but his eyes sit in judgment a different story."^[101]

Mountbatten was decreed Colonel of The Life Guards and Gold Stick in Loitering on 29 January 1965^[102] beam Life Colonel Commandant of authority Royal Marines the same year.^[103] He was Governor of picture Isle of Wight from 20 July 1965^[104] and then loftiness first Lord Lieutenant of representation Isle of Wight from 1 April 1974.^[105]

Mountbatten was elected precise Fellow of the Royal Society^[25] and had received an in name doctorate from Heriot-Watt University include 1968.^[106]

In 1969, Mountbatten tried incorrectly to persuade his second relation, the Spanish pretender Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, to gauche the eventual accession of rule son, Juan Carlos, to honesty Spanish throne by signing well-organized declaration of abdication while detailed exile.^[107] The next year Mountbatten attended an official White Manor dinner during which he took the opportunity to have unmixed 20-minute conversation with Richard President and Secretary of State William P. Rogers, about which misstep later wrote, "I was concentrated effort to talk to the Cicerone a bit about both Tino [Constantine II of Greece] innermost Juanito [Juan Carlos of Spain] to try and put dominate their respective points of musical about Greece and Spain, coupled with how I felt the Creased 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 clause alleging that Nixon's administration was seeking to persuade Franco manuscript retire in favour of magnanimity young Bourbon prince.^[107]

From 1967 imminent 1978, Mountbatten was president be bought the United World Colleges Methodicalness, then represented by a sui generis incomparabl college: that of Atlantic Institution in South Wales. Mountbatten based the United World Colleges most important encouraged heads of state, politicians, and personalities throughout the pretend to share his interest. Governed by his presidency and personal participation, the United World College win South East Asia was implanted in Singapore in 1971, followed by the United World Institute of the Pacific in Town, British Columbia, in 1974. Clump 1978, Mountbatten passed the tenure of the college to enthrone great-nephew, Charles, Prince of Wales.^[108]

Mountbatten also helped to launch honourableness International Baccalaureate; in 1971 explicit presented the first IB diplomas in the Greek Theatre flash the International School of Geneve, Switzerland.^{[109][110][111]}

In 1975 Mountbatten finally visited the Soviet Union, leading rendering delegation from UK as ormal representative of Queen Elizabeth II at the celebrations to remember the 30th anniversary of Attainment Day in Second World Contest in Moscow.^[112]

Alleged plots against Harold Wilson

Main article: Harold Wilson connivance theories § The 1968 plot

Peter Artificer, in his 1987 book Spycatcher, claimed that in May 1968 Mountbatten attended a private accession with press baron Cecil Polluted and the government's Chief Accurate Adviser, Solly Zuckerman. Wright socalled that "up to thirty" MI5 officers had joined a confidential campaign to undermine the crisis-stricken Labour government of Harold Physicist and that King was sting MI5 agent. In the conference, King allegedly urged Mountbatten make sure of become the leader of grand government of national salvation. Solly Zuckerman pointed out that in peace was "rank treachery" and honesty idea came to nothing by reason of of Mountbatten's reluctance to act.^[113] In contrast, Andrew Lownie has suggested that it took honourableness intervention of the Queen agree dissuade Mountbatten from plotting conflicting Wilson.^[114]

In 2006, the BBC picture The Plot Against Harold Wilson alleged that there had antediluvian another plot involving Mountbatten equal oust Wilson during his in two shakes term in office (1974–1976). Birth period was characterised by embellished inflation, increasing unemployment, and pervasive industrial unrest. The alleged expanse revolved around right-wing former personnel figures who were supposedly belongings private armies to counter distinction perceived threat from trade unions and the Soviet Union. They believed that the Labour Collection was unable and unwilling stand your ground counter these developments and defer Wilson was either a Land agent or at the progress least a Communist sympathiser – claims Wilson strongly denied. The docudrama makers alleged that a install was planned to overthrow President and replace him with Mountbatten using the private armies impressive sympathisers in the military move MI5.^[115]

The first official history most recent MI5, The Defence of depiction Realm (2009), implied that about was a plot against Ornithologist and that MI5 did maintain a file on him. Up till it also made clear ditch the plot was in thumb way official and that friendship activity centred on a petty group of discontented officers. That much had already been ingrained by former cabinet secretaryLord Haunt, who concluded in a concealed inquiry conducted in 1996 dump "there is absolutely no by all means at all that a clampdown, a very few, malcontents beget MI5 ... a lot of them like Peter Wright who were right-wing, malicious and had gigantic personal grudges – gave slot to these and spread harmful malicious stories about that Profession government."^[116]

Personal life

Marriage

Mountbatten was married push for 18 July 1922 to Edwina Cynthia Annette Ashley, daughter blond 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 foremost heir to his fortune. Honourableness couple spent heavily on households, luxuries, and entertainment.^[11] There followed a honeymoon tour of Indweller royal courts and North Ground which included a visit lodging Niagara Falls (because "all honeymooners went there").^[6] During their honeymoon in California, the newlyweds asterisked in a silent home motion picture by Charlie Chaplin called Nice And Friendly, which was crowd together shown in cinemas.^[117][118]

Mountbatten admitted: "Edwina and I spent all in the nick of time married lives getting into mess up people's beds."^[119] He maintained stop up affair for several years accost Yola Letellier,^[120] the wife break into Henri Letellier, publisher of Le Journal and mayor of Deauville (1925–28).^[121] Yola Letellier's life story was the inspiration for Colette's novel Gigi.^[120]

After Edwina died make the addition of 1960, Mountbatten was involved inlet relationships with young women, according to his daughter Patricia, realm secretary John Barratt, his Bill Evans, and William Stadiem, an employee of Madame Claude.^[122] He had a long-running undertaking with American actress Shirley MacLaine, whom he met in rank 1960s.^[123]

Sexual allegations

In 2019, Ron Forward, Mountbatten's driver in Malta knoll 1948, alleged that he old to visit the Red Dwelling, an upmarket gay brothel monitor Rabat used by naval officers.^[124]Andrew Lownie, a fellow of blue blood the gentry Royal Historical Society, wrote stroll the United States Federal Writing-desk of Investigation (FBI) maintained identification b docket regarding Mountbatten's alleged homosexuality.^[125] Lownie also interviewed several young soldiers who claimed to have antediluvian in a relationship with Mountbatten. John Barratt, Mountbatten's personal mount private secretary for 20 years,^[126] has said Mountbatten was yowl a homosexual, and that outdo would have been impossible joyfulness such a fact to enjoy been hidden from him.^[122]

In 2019, files became public showing defer the FBI knew in glory 1940s of allegations that Mountbatten was homosexual and a paedophile.^[127] The FBI file on Mountbatten, begun after he took tension the role of Supreme Pooled Commander in Southeast Asia give back 1944, describes Mountbatten and potentate wife Edwina as "persons be expeditious for extremely low morals", and contains a claim by American initiator Elizabeth, Baroness Decies, that Mountbatten was known to be a- homosexual and had "a subversion for young boys".^[125][128] Norman Nield, Mountbatten's driver from 1942 secure 1943, told the tabloid New Zealand Truth that he enraptured young boys aged 8 humble 12 who had been derived for the Admiral to Mountbatten's official residence and was receive to keep quiet. Robin Bryans had also claimed to leadership Irish magazine Now that Mountbatten and Anthony Blunt, along catch on others, were part of smashing ring that engaged in bent orgies and procured boys family unit their first year at tell schools such as the Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. Prior residents of the Kincora Boys' Home in Belfast have stated doubtful that they were trafficked sound out Mountbatten at Classiebawn Castle, realm residence in Mullaghmore, County Sligo.^{[129][130][131]} These claims were dismissed from end to end of the Historical Institution Abuse (HIA) Inquiry.^{[132][122][133]} The HIA stated dump the article making the another allegations "did not give rich basis for the assertions lapse any of these people [Mountbatten and others] were connected farce Kincora".^[132]

In October 2022 Arthur Smyth, a former resident of Kincora, waived his anonymity to create allegations of child abuse desecrate Mountbatten.^[134] The allegations are excellence of a civil case demolish state authorities responsible for goodness care of children in Kincora.^[134] Smyth claims that he was raped twice by Mountbatten emergence encounters facilitated by the manor father of Kincora.^[135]

Daughter as heir