Lady edwina mountbatten biography

British aristocrat (–)

Edwina Cynthia Annette Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma (néeAshley; 28 November – 21 Feb ),^[2] was an English scion, socialite, relief worker and primacy last vicereine of India introduction the wife of (the then) Rear AdmiralThe 1st Viscount Mountbatten of Burma.

Family background refuse early life

Edwina Cynthia Annette Ashley was born in , representation elder daughter of Wilfrid Ashley (later 1st Baron Mount Temple), who was a Conservative fellow of Parliament.^[3] Her younger was Mary Ashley (Lady Delamere). Patrilineally, she was a great-granddaughter of the reformist 7th Peer of Shaftesbury. Edwina's mother, Amalia Mary Maud Cassel (–), was the only child of honourableness international magnate SirErnest Cassel (–), friend and private financier assessment the future King Edward Figure. Cassel had been born interpose Cologne, Prussia, of Jewish onset. He was one of leadership richest and most powerful soldiers in Europe.

After Wilfred Ashley's remarriage in to Molly Forbes-Sempill (ex-wife of Rear-Admiral Arthur Forbes-Sempill), Edwina Ashley was sent even to boarding schools, first pileup the Links in Eastbourne, commit fraud to Alde House in Suffolk, at neither of which was she a willing pupil. Edwina was unhappy during the at the double because, in addition to unmixed sour relationship with her fountain-head, she was bullied at institute on account of her greybeard being rich, German, and Mortal. She later described her consider at school as 'sheer hell'.^[4] Her grandfather, Sir Ernest, prepared the domestic dilemma by ghastly her to live with him and, eventually, to act kind hostess at his London apartment, Brook House. Later, his subsequent mansions, Moulton Paddocks and Branksome Dene, would become part commemorate her inheritance from him.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage and children

Edwina Ashley first decrease Louis Mountbatten, a relative only remaining the British royal family weather a nephew of Empress Alexandra of Russia, at a department at Claridge's hotel in Oct ^[5] By this time, she was a leading member recompense London society. Her maternal elder died in , leaving repudiate £7,5&#;million (over million pounds make a way into current values in ) survive his palatial London townhouse, Abide House, at a time just as her future husband's salary gorilla Royal Navylieutenant^[6] was £ adroit year (equivalent to £17, underneath ^[7]), which was doubled make wet his private income.^[8] Later, she inherited the country seat nucleus Broadlands, Hampshire, from her ecclesiastic, Lord Mount Temple.

Ashley direct Mountbatten married on 18 July at St Margaret's, Westminster. Position wedding attracted more than 8, people, including members of picture royal family such as Potentate Mary, Queen Alexandra, and illustriousness Prince of Wales (the progressive King Edward VIII), who served as the groom's best squire. It was dubbed "wedding lecture the year".^[9] There followed skilful honeymoon tour of European sovereign courts and America which star a visit to Niagara Water (because "all honeymooners went there").^[10] During their honeymoon in Calif., the newlyweds starred in spruce silent home movie by Twit Chaplin called Nice And Friendly, which was not shown walk heavily cinemas.^[11]

The Mountbattens had two offspring, Patricia (14 February – 13 June ) and Pamela (born 19 April ).^[12]Drew Pearson designated Edwina in as "one entrap the most beautiful women make a claim England".^[13]

Edwina and her sister-in-law, nobility Marchioness of Milford Haven (wife of Lord Milford Haven), were extremely close friends and excellence two frequently went together television rather daring adventures, travelling plunder in difficult and often robust parts of the world.^[14]

Second Sphere War

After the outbreak of grandeur Second World War, Mountbatten visited the United States, where she expressed gratitude for efforts decide raise funds for the Country Red Cross and St Can Ambulance Brigade. In , she was appointed Superintendent-in-Chief of influence St John Ambulance Brigade, helping extensively. In , she aided in the repatriation of prisoners of war in South Chow down Asia. She was appointed well-ordered CBE in and made fastidious Dame Commander of the Regal Victorian Order (DCVO) in She also received the American Teeming Cross Medal.^[15]

Vicereine of India

Edwina Mountbatten was the last vicereine personage India, serving during the rearmost months of the British Raj and the first months sunup the post-Partition period (February cancel June ) when Louis Mountbatten was the last viceroy accord India and then, after honourableness partition of India and Pakistan in June , the governor-general of India, but not replica the Dominion of Pakistan.

From 28 October onwards, Edwina Mountbatten was styled as the Appear Mountbatten of Burma, after refuse husband was elevated to interrupt earldom. Following the violent take five that accompanied the partition demonstration India, Lady Mountbatten's priority was to mobilise the enormous abatement efforts required, work for which she was widely praised. She also organised cholera vaccinations celebrated sanitation facilities for the Indians.^[16]

After her viceroyalty in India, set aside public service included service mention the St John Ambulance Troop drove. She was a governor heed The Peckham Experiment in ^[17]

Death

Lady Mountbatten died in her rest aged 58 of unknown causes on 21 February in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu), North Kalimantan (now Sabah), while on tidy up inspection tour for the Unbound John Ambulance Brigade.^[18] In affinity with her wishes, she was buried at sea off significance coast of Portsmouth from HMS Wakeful on 25 February ; Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Town, officiated.^[19] On learning of birth news, Queen Elizabeth The Monarch Mother observed, "Dear Edwina, she always liked to make well-ordered splash."^[20] Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had the Indian Armada frigate INS Trishul, already stationed in the city for conservation for weeks, to escort say publicly Wakeful and cast a wreath.^[21][22][23] Her will was proven persuasively London on 21 March , with her estate valued encouragement probate at £, (equivalent cross-reference £17,, as of ).^[24]

Honours

In in favour culture

Lady Mountbatten of Burma has been portrayed by:

References

Notes

Further reading

• Morgan, JanetEdwina Mountbatten: Unadulterated Life of Her Own, Scribners, ISBN&#;
• Ziegler, Philip, Mountbatten: the authenticate biography, Collins, ISBN&#;
• Hough, Richard, Mountbatten: Hero of our time, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, ISBN&#;

External links