Earl Mountbatten of Burma

Earl Mountbatten of Burma was born at Frogmore House, in the home park of Windsor Castle, on 25th June 1900. He was the second son and the youngest child of Prince Louis of Battenburg and Princess Victoria of Hesse. His mother was a grand daughter of Queen Victoria whilst his father was the eldest son of Prince Alexander of Hesse.

It was evident from an early age that Lord Mountbatten would follow his father into the Royal Navy. He passed into the Royal Naval College at Osborne at the age of twelve and for the next four years he was trained as a naval cadet.

In july 1911 he was promoted to midshipman and went to sea to start his long and distinguished naval career.

He improved the Royal Navy's Communications

In August 1924 he trained as a specialist signals officer and some seven years later was credited with the feat of single handedly transforming the Mediterranean Fleet's wireless communications from an antiquated curiosity to a dazzling miracle of modern skills.

But probably the highlight of his earlier days in the Navy was the time he spent in the destroyer H.M.S. Kelly.

He commanded this ship with great distinction in the North Sea during the early days of World War II and later in the mediterranean where she was sunk during the Battle of Crete.

He created the Royal Marine Commandos

"It needs no explaining the thrill and the pride which I felt during the war, in having under my command those gallant men of the Commandos."

"When they were first raised, Commandos were composed almost entirely of soldiers, with just a sprinkling of Marines; and this seemed to me to be a mistake, for it was above all the Marines who, by virtue of their soldier-sailor training, should be eminently suited to combined operations and raids."

"I therefore raised a number of Commandos composed entirely of Marines; and I am glad to think that the Admiralty have retained the Royal Marine Commandos, who fought alongside the Army Commandos in the war, and who are now keeping alive the amphibious traditions which for so long have been theirs, and of which the proud symbol is now the green beret which they have retained."

A year later he flew to India, to become the Supreme Allied Commander of South East Asia at one of the bleakest moments of the War and at its close when the tide turned, he found himself responsible for a huge area where old empires were crumbling in the face of nationalist, often communist, movements.

He accepted assignments without question

Hardly had he time to meet this challenge before he was called upon to preside as the last Viceroy and Governor General at the transfer of power in India. Of all the services he was to perform, none was more daunting and none more dazzingly discharged.

He returned to the Navy in 1948 and climbed to the pinnacle of his profession, the post of First Sea Lord. Later he became Chief of Defence Staff and carried through radical reorganisation of the defence machinery in Whitehall and the relationship between the three services.

A cruel end to a distinguished career

On 6th August 1965 he was appointed Life Colonel Commandant of the Royal Marines. Throughout his life he had many contacts with the Corps. As Chief of Combined Operations he was instrumental in converting the Royal Marine Battalions to Commandos.

He also played an important part in shaping the Modern Corps and it was through his inspiration and encouragement that the Royal Marines are now regarded as Britain's specialists in amphibious operations.

on 27th August 1979 he was assassinated by the IRA whilst holidaying at his Irish home, Classiebaun Castle. The main Dinning Room of the former Royal Marines Officers Mess at Eastney Barracks has been named the Mountbatten Room in his memory.

Royal Navy Earl Mountbatten

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