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LADY MOUNTBATTEN DIES IN SLEEP ON VISIT TO BORNEO
LONDON, Feb. 21 [1860] (A.A.P.).—Countess Mountbatten, wife of Earl Mountbatten, died last night in her sleep at Jesselton, North Borneo. She was 58.
Lady Mountbatten had been in Borneo since Wednesday visiting units of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.
Her death was announced by a spokesman for the British Commission in Singapore. Lord Mountbatten was at his London home when news of his wife's death reached him. A member of his household said Lady Mountbatten’s body would be flown to England. Lord Mountbatten’s daughter, Lady Pamela Hicks [aged 36], returned today from her Honeymoon in the West Indies and New York, unaware of her mother's death. Lady Pamela [aged 30] and her husband, Mr David Hicks, were met at London Airport by Lord Brabourne [aged 35], who was best man at their wedding, and he broke the news in airshot lounge reserved for special travellers. Lady Mountbatten was an aunt of the Duke of Edinburgh through her marriage to his uncie. Her death has cast a shadow over the rejoicing at jthe birth of the Queen's third baby. The Duke of Edinburgh went to the Queen's room this morning and passed on the news to her. Lady Mountbatten had been on a 10-week inspection of brigade units and medical and nursing services in the Middle East and Far East, She toured Cyprus, India, Malaya and Singapore, before reaching Borneo. Mr Noel Turner, the officer administering the Government in Jesselton, said: "Lady Mountbatten went to bed after a reception at my house yesterday evening. "She had not been feeling very well and did not greet the guests but came down during the reception and sat on a couch and spoke to some of them. I cannot say just when she passed away, but my wife thinks the time of her death was around 2,30 this morning." Mr Turner said a Hastings aircraft of the R.A.F. Transport Command was flying from Singapore to Jesselton to pick up a coffin containing the body of Lady Mountbatten. Mr Turner said the Countess yesterday visited the Red Cross, hospitals, and the local ambulance brigade, but the program was not "unduly heavy." Lady Mounthatten's home was at Broadlands, on the outskirts of the little Hampshire town of Romsey. Her last public appearance in the borough was for the wedding of her daughter [Pamela], at Romsey Abbey on January 13, four days before she left for overseas,