Pen gun owned by Lord Mountbatten to be auctioned
June 2nd, 2010 - 7:00 pm ICT by ANILondon, June 2 (ANI): A James Bond-style gun that is disguised as a pencil and was given as a gift to Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy of the British Indian Empire, is coming up for auction on June 24. “The gold-plated item has a concealed trigger and a 2 3/4ins barrel that forms a .22 pistol and was presented to the last Viceroy of India by a Maharaja. The ‘pencil pistol’ makes up part of the personal sidearms that belonged to Lord Mountbatten, a World War II hero who was blown up by the IRA in 1979,” The Telegraph reports. It has been reported that Lord Mountbatten used some of them in World War II and they helped to preserve his life.
The weapons have been at the Imperial War Museum since legislation following the Dunblane massacre in 1996 banned the ownership of handguns.
But now that the government insurance scheme has run out, Lord Mountbatten’s daughter, Lady Penelope Braybourne, has decided to sell them.
Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, commonly known as Lord Mountbatten, was a British admiral, statesman and the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma. He was the youngest child of Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse and His royal ancestry can be dated back to the Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
Before moving to India, he served as the ‘First Sea Lord’ from 1954 till 1959, where he was known for his adventurous and daring acts.
While in India, he earned appreciation for his efforts and contribution towards Indian Independence, which was one of the many achievements credited to him including the recapturing of Burma from Japanese troops during his days as a Supreme Allied commander of South Asia.
He was the last viceroy of the British Indian Empire and became the first Governor-General of Independent India in 1947. Mountbatten was assassinated on August 27, 1979 by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). (ANI)
- Nehru-Edwina's love not physical but intellectual: Alex Von Tunzelmann (Interview) - Jan 24, 2011
- Now, Lord Ivar Mountbatten to split from his wife of 16yrs Lady Penelope - Sep 12, 2010
- Irrfan Khan to play Nehru in 'Indian Summer'? - Oct 04, 2009
- Book unveils fascinating origins of our favourite dishes - Sep 06, 2010
- Blanchett starrer 'Indian Summer' halted over Nehru-Edwina affair - Sep 20, 2009
- Nehru-Mountbatten affair cleared by the Government of India - Oct 03, 2009
- Narendra Sarila, Mountbatten's aide and diplomat, passes away - Jul 08, 2011
- 'Restored Viceregal lodge can be future restoration model' - Apr 18, 2011
- 150-year-old rare photos from Dalhousie collection on sale - Sep 24, 2011
- Production of Indian Summer halted over Nehru-Edwina affair - Sep 19, 2009
- Cate Blanchett starrer "Indian Summer" production halted over Nehru-Edwina affair - Sep 19, 2009
- Bollywood urged to step forward with its version Indian of Summer - Oct 22, 2009
- Horse shows and tea dances: Remembering the once lazy capital - Feb 17, 2012
- India gives conditional go-ahead to Blanchett-starrer Indian Summer - Oct 02, 2009
- Brit film on Nehru-Edwina Mountbatten affair put on hold due to recession - Oct 21, 2009
Tags: british admiral, dunblane massacre, earl mountbatten, imperial war museum, indian empire, irish republican army, irish republican army ira, lady penelope, last viceroy of india, lord mountbatten, pen gun, personal sidearms, prince louis, princess victoria, provisional irish republican army, royal ancestry, sea lord, supreme allied commander, viceroy of india, world war ii