Wars and ConflictsΒ permalink
Lord Battenberg
This discussion has been closed.
-
Message 1.Β
Posted by expat32 (U2025313) on Monday, 16th January 2006
Mountbatten of Burma, are you kidding me. What did this guy accomplish to have earned such a title? He was the theater commander, but who did he command. General Slim? Would he have taken anything he said seriously? The Chinese ignored him. Wingate ignored everyone except Churchill. The Americans treated him with contempt.Should it have been Mountbatten of Dieppe? Why was he treated like a grand strategist with this title, or is the answer all too obvious?
-
Message 2
Posted by Trident_MKII (U1823460) on Monday, 16th January 2006
he wasn't that bad
his legend was secured when he was killed in such a manner -
Message 3
Posted by Mani (U1821129) on Monday, 16th January 2006
"or is the answer all too obvious?"
Probably down to who Daddy was.... -
Message 4
Posted by Lord Ball (U1767246) on Monday, 16th January 2006
Yes, he did have links to the Royal Family as we all know. Yet, to dismiss him as nothing but someone who was given the glory is a bit foolish. It may have been Slim who turned the tide militarily, but Mountbatten did a lot of work on morale in the Burma campaign. He was also charged with the Combined Operations that spawned the Commandos, who did many more things than Dieppe. Also, Mountbatten was awarded the title of Burma because as theatre commander and as the last Viceroy of India he was always very closely associated with the area.
-
Message 5
Posted by Eliza6Beth (U2637732) on Monday, 16th January 2006
Didn't his wife have an affair with Nehru? Nothing to do with your question, but it must have been a bit scandalous in its time! Was he the first royal to be admitted to be gay, by the way, in modern times?
Eliza (lowering the tone somewhat... sorry!) -
Message 6
Posted by Mr Pedant (U2464726) on Tuesday, 17th January 2006
A friend's Dad worked in one of the Royal Palaces as an electrician for many years and got to know many of the royals to a greater or lesser extent.
Mountbatten was his favourite, an absolute top bloke apparently. -
Message 7
Posted by colonelblimp (U1705702) on Tuesday, 17th January 2006
Whatever his many faults, at least Mountbatten had seen combat and had extensive command experience. The only battlefield Dwight D Eisenhower had ever stepped onto before being given command of Operation Torch was Gettysburg, albeit 55 years too late to see the action: he'd been put in charge of a training unit at Camp Colt. He spent most of his career in an office, highlights including "He volunteers for an Army convoy that spends the summer traveling across the U.S. along the Lincoln Highway (U.S. Highway 30) to study the time it takes to move military equipment from coast to coast" and "Eisenhower returns to Camp Meade, Maryland to coach football".
And, if Mountbatten's sex life gives cause for comment, let's remember that Eisenhower found time for an adulterous affair with his driver while planning the invasion of Europe.
Slim's opinion of Mountbatten's military nous could hardly have been lower than most British generals' opinion of Eisenhower's strategic ability. Like Mountbatten, though, he had diplomatic talent - and he was evidently good at coaching football. -
Message 8
Posted by expat32 (U2025313) on Tuesday, 17th January 2006
colonelimp,
I guess that rules out any suggestion I had for Lord Eisenhower of Normandy then.
Cheerz. -
Message 9
Posted by Plancenoit (U1237957) on Tuesday, 17th January 2006
Didn't his wife have an affair with Nehru? Nothing to do with your question, but it must have been a bit scandalous in its time! Was he the first royal to be admitted to be gay, by the way, in modern times?
Eliza (lowering the tone somewhat... sorry!)Β
Mountbatten was gay?? I didn't know that. Highly unusual for such a senior royal to come out. Is that a common knowledge fact, or an assumption?? I'm not very well informed on the Royal stuff.....not a big fan of the modern ones. -
Message 10
Posted by Eliza6Beth (U2637732) on Tuesday, 17th January 2006
I think that MB's gayness is now pretty openly accepted. Not sure it is so officially, but it's not scandalous to say it any more. Anyway, at least it sheds light on why he was such great pals with Noel Coward, who had such fun impersonating him in In Which We Serve.
However, this really isn't anythign to do with his military prowess or political achievements, it's just me in Hello mode. Apologies!
Eliza. -
Message 11
Posted by Plancenoit (U1237957) on Tuesday, 17th January 2006
It may have some bearing on his military prowess. If, within his own mind, he was unsure of his true direction and purpose in life, he may have had difficulty in deciding how to deploy his weaponry.
Sorry. Couldn't resist that one. I'll get my coat.
About this Board
The History message boards are now closed. They remain visible as a matter of record but the opportunity to add new comments or open new threads is no longer available. Thank you all for your valued contributions over many years.
or Β to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
The message board is closed for posting.
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Search this Board
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ iD
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ navigation
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ links
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Β© 2014 The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.