TLS signed “Yours sincerely, Mountbatten of Burma,” one page, 6 x 7.5, First Sea Lord, Admiralty letterhead, November 17, 1955. Letter to a "Mr. Balding," thanking him for travel arrangements made when disembarking from the RMS Queen Elizabeth after a trip to the United States and Canada. In full: "I feel I must write you this short note to thank you very much indeed for all your kindness in looking after us when we arrived at Southampton on Tuesday in the Queen Elizabeth. We had a wonderful trip back in the ship and it enabled both of us to recover from a very strenuous official tour to Canada and the United States. I was immensely impressed with the stabilisers fitted in the ship as they make all the difference to the comfort of the passengers." Triple-matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 22.75 x 19.25. In fine condition, with some rusty paperclip stains.
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS (born Prince Louis of Battenberg; 25 June 1900 - 27 August 1979). British statesman and naval officer; uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; cousin (strictly, second cousin once removed) to H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. He was the last Viceroy of India (1947) and the first Governor-General of the independent Union of India (1947-48), from which the modern Republic of India emerged in 1950. From 1954 until 1959 he was the First Sea Lord, a position that had been held by his father, Prince Louis of Battenberg, some forty years earlier. Thereafter he served as Chief of the Defence Staff until 1965, making him the longest serving professional head of the British Armed Forces to date. During this period Mountbatten also served as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee for a year.
In 1979 Mountbatten was assassinated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA), who planted a bomb in his yacht, the Shadow V, at Mullaghmore, County Sligo, in the Republic of Ireland.
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