The Burma Star Window honours Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, the military leader of the Second World War and all those who served under his command. The window was commissioned by the local Burma Star Association and installed around 1983. It comprises regimental badges from all the various forces Mountbatten served with during his long and illustrious military career.
Who was Mountbatten?
A much-decorated individual, with close ties to royalty, he was born into a wealthy, privileged family. Whereas many rich people live lives of complacent luxury, Mountbatten was an extremely dynamic and able leader.
“Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas 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), known as Lord Mountbatten, was a British statesman and naval officer, an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and second cousin once removed to Elizabeth II. During the Second World War, he was Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command (1943–46). It is from this period, whilst still quite a young man (left), that he came to be known as ‘Mountbatten of Burma’. After World War II, Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India (1947) and the first Governor-General of the independent Dominion of India (1947–48), from which the modern Republic of India was to emerge in 1950. From 1954 until 1959 he was First Sea Lord. He then 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.” Ref 1
Assassination
On 27th August 1979, Lord Mountbatten and one of his twin grandsons, Nicholas, 14, and Paul Maxwell, 15, a local employed as a boat boy were killed when a bomb planted by the IRA exploded on their leisure boat Shadow V in Mullaghmore, County Sligo, in Ireland. Another passenger, Baroness Brabourne, 82, died the day after the attack. Nicholas’s twin brother Tim was blinded in one eye but survived. It also seriously injured both his parents; he writes that in hospital, 'between the three survivors, we had three functioning eyes and no working eardrums'.
What did Mountbatten achieve in Burma?
Mountbatten was faced with an almost impossible task in Burma during the Second World War. The Japanese, who had invaded Burma, had a stranglehold on the country. The difficult terrain included jungle, rivers and mountains. The monsoon rains were imminent during this critical period in 1945. In addition, the Japanese forces greatly outnumbered those of the allies. And yet, by a series of bold, risky and brilliant manoeuvres, summed up by this diagram (left) from Winston Churchill’s biography, Mountbatten’s forces were able to triumph, liberating Rangoon, the capital on 2nd May 1945. “That afternoon the monsoon broke in all its violence, and Rangoon fell with only a few hours to spare.” (Ref 2).
Churchill congratulates Mountbatten.
One week after Rangoon was liberated, Churchill sent this message to Mountbatten: “I send you my most heartfelt congratulations upon the…victory at Rangoon of your Burma campaigns. The hard fighting at Imphal and Kohima in 1944 prepared the way for the brilliant operations, conducted over a vast range of territory, which have crowned the exertions of the South-East Asia command in 1945. It was thought…by your High Command that about six British and British-Indian divisions, together with much shipping and landing vessels…would be required for enterprises less far-reaching than those you and your gallant forces and Allies have in fact accomplished.
The prolongation of the German war made it impossible to send the British and British-Indian divisions which you needed, and a good many other units on which you were counting had to be retained in the decisive European theatre. In spite of this diminution and disappointment you and your men have done all and more than your directive required. Pray convey to everyone under your command or associated with you the sense of admiration and gratitude felt by all at home at the splendid close of the Burma campaign. In honour of these great deeds of South-East Asia Command His Majesty the King has commanded that a special decoration, the “Burma Star”, should be struck, and the ribbons flown out to you at the earliest moment”. (Ref 2)
Can former enemies be reconciled?
War brings terrible suffering. Thousands perished in Burma: civilians, soldiers, sailors and airmen from many countries. The Burma Star Association exists to relieve need, hardship or distress among men and women who served in the Burma Campaign of the 1939-45 war..and for their widows, widowers or dependants (Ref 3).
The UK is now at peace with Japan and has been for many years. But what followed the assassination of Mountbatten and the others by the IRA? His grandson Tim Knatchbull, after 25 years was finally able to come to terms with losing his brother. In doing so, he has also been able to forgive the IRA assassins who killed three of his family - only one of whom, Thomas McMahon, was convicted of the crime.
McMahon was released from prison in August 1998 as part of the Good Friday agreement. Tim points out - and it is a tragic irony - that his grandfather would have supported an autonomous Ireland (Ref 4).
Mountbatten’s godson Prince Charles met and shook the hand of Gerry Adams in May 2015 in a gesture of reconciliation with the man whom many believe was once an IRA commander.
Finally, as followers of Jesus here at Parish Church, we give thanks for the initiative that God has taken to reconcile us to himself. As Paul the apostle writes “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Romans 5:10. This amazing grace and new life is available to all who will come.
Nigel Lea-Wilson, 7th September 2016