How Lt Cdr Philip Mountbatten stepped up to serve during the Second World War
Philip Mountbatten had a busy career with the Royal Navy, serving during the Second World War, eventually leaving in 1952 to become consort to Her Majesty The Queen
A young Philip Mountbatten began his Navy career in May 1939 at the age of 17 years old, joining the Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth as a Special Entry Naval Cadet for training, following in the footsteps of his paternal grandfather and uncles. It was at Dartmouth Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth first noticed Philip.
Mountbatten passed out of BRNC and was recognised for his academic abilities and sporting prowess. He was awarded with the King’s Dirk and the Eardley Howard Crocket Prize, awards for being the best Cadet during training.
Due to the breakout of the Second World War in 1939, newly passed out Philip Mountbatten was appointed to the battleship HMS RAMILLIES on promotion to Midshipman in January 1940, and was on patrol in the Indian Ocean.
Still in the Indian Ocean, in May 1940, he joined HMS KENT, which was serving as the China station’s flagship. Towards the end of that calendar year, he served in sister ship HMS SHROPSHIRE. Service in this region kept Mountbatten, a Greek national at that time, and so a neutral, outside the main area of active conflict, however, the invasion of Greece by the Axis forces at the end of the year removed his status of neutrality.
In December 1940, Mountbatten was appointed to the battleship HMS VALIANT, operating as part of the Mediterranean Fleet. In March 1941, the ship fought in the Battle of Cape Matapan, the last major sortie by the Italian fleet.
For Mountbatten’s role commanding VALIANT’s searchlight battery, he was Mentioned in Despatches by the ship’s Captain for his bravery and important contributions.
“It’s quite interesting to hear these things [gunshots] whistling over and landing in the water with a great splash beside you, and you suddenly realised that life was for real.”
— Midshipman Philip Mountbatten
In January 1942, Philip Mountbatten joined destroyer HMS WALLACE as a watchkeeper following a promotion to Sub-Lieutenant. In July of that year, Mountbatten was promoted to Lieutenant, and even though he was still young, he was assumed the role of First Lieutenant.
In September 1945, Mountbatten was on board HMS WHELP, which was present in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese signed their surrender.
In 1952, Philip Mountbatten left the Royal Navy following the death of King George VI, as Princess Elizabeth was to be crowned Queen, and so he left to become her consort. In the same year, he was also promoted to Admiral of the Fleet.
As Duke of Edinburgh he remained closely connected to the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force until his withdrawal from public duties, with Her Majesty The Queen conferring on him the title of Lord High Admiral on his 90th birthday. His final public engagement was at a parade of Royal Marines at Buckingham Palace in his role as Captain General Royal Marines at the age of 96.
