A BIT OF HISTORY

RCSCC ADMIRAL MOUNTBATTEN has had a long and proud history within the Sudbury community since 1943. We serve our community through an engaging youth program aimed at building the leaders of tomorrow and promoting volunteerism, citizenship and healthy living.

Our namesake, Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, allowed the corps to carry his name “provided they do well”. Throughout our history, the corps has earned national recognition as being the top cadet corps in Canada, as well as multiple awards nationally and provincially on the field of competition.

The corps continues to uphold Mountbatten’s legacy, which is reflected in our motto “It Can Be Done”, challenging today’s youth to overcome personal and professional obstacles with the life skills they learn here. The cadet organization as a whole and indeed Mountbatten, has contributed to the success of many individuals in whatever career path they chose, both in the military or in civilian life.

Our Namesake Admiral Louis Mountbatten

Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, born on June 25th, 1900 was the son of Louis Alexander Mountbatten, the 1st Marquess of Milford Haven and of Princess Victoria. His great grandmother was Queen Victoria and his maternal grandfather was Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse.

Lord Mountbatten joined the Navy as a cadet at age 13 and served in the First World War. He was appointed as Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1937. In World War II, he
commanded HMS Kelly, became Commander of Combined Operations as well as Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (1941), Chief of Combined Operations (1942), and Supreme Allied Commander of SE Asia (1943). In that year, he authorized a newly formed Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, the use of his name with a stipulation, “They can use my name provided they do well.”

Mountbatten was made a Knight of the Garter in 1946, and in 1947 appointed Knight Grand
Commander of the Star of India, Knight Grand Commander of the Indian Empire, and Baron
Romsey of Southampton. That same year he served as Viceroy of India and became the last as the title of viceroy was abolished upon India’s independence in August 1947. He then briefly served as the first Governor-General of the new Dominion of India to oversee the transition from British rule.

He was appointed Fourth Sea Lord in 1950 and served his final posting at the Admiralty as First Sea Lord. He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1955), and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1955 to 1959. Mountbatten took up the post of Commander-in-Chief
Mediterranean in 1952 in charge of the British fleet in the Mediterranean and based in Malta. He became an admiral of the fleet in 1956 and served as chief of the United Kingdom Defence Staff 1959, and holder of the Order of Merit (1965), and member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Admiral Mountbatten has inspected our corps three times. The first time in 1959 at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, where he presented the corps with his portrait, which still hangs proudly in our ship’s office. The second occasion was in 1972 at HMCS York in Toronto where he presented the corps with a Navy League of Canada flag. His final meeting with his corps was at CFS Falconbridge in 1975 where he made a number of presentations including the 1975 Navy League of Canada Proficiency Trophy awarded to the best corps in Canada.

Mountbatten was assassinated in 1979 by Provisional Irish Republican Army terrorists who planted a bomb in his boat.

For many though, he will simply remain The Last Hero.