THE great uncle of Prince Charles, Lord Mountbatten was the man who accepted the Japanese surrender in 1945. He was also the last Viceroy of India, a country which, for 150 years, was the jewel of the British Crown. He became the last Viceroy as it was during his reign that India was "given away" and gained its independence from the British Empire.

The pinnacle of his glittering career came in 1955 when Winston Churchill, in one of his last acts as Prime Minister, chose Lord Mountbatten to be the First Sea Lord.

It was the proudest moment in his career, more so than his appointment four years later as Chief of Defence Staff.

In 1965 Mountbatten retired from active duty in the Royal Navy. Shortly afterwards he was made Governor of the Isle of Wight, a position he took as seriously as when he was made Viceroy of India.

The family home is Broadlands in Romsey where newlyweds Prince Charles and Diana honeymooned in 1981.

Lord Mountbatten, along with members of his family and teenager Paul Maxwell, was murdered on August 27, 1979 by members of terrorist organisation the IRA.

It occurred just 15 minutes after Donegal fishing boat Shadow V had left a small County Sligo harbour, when 5lbs of gelignite stashed beneath the fishing boat ignited, blowing the tiny vessel to pieces.

Name: Lord Louis Mountbatten Occupation: Received the title of Earl Mountbatten of Burma for services in the war and in India, was also the First Sea Lord.

DATE OF BIRTH: June 25, 1900 DIED: August 27, 1979 local link: Lived in Romsey