The Sisters_The Saga of the Mitford Family
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Mitford, Pamela (‘Woman’/‘Woo’), later Jackson: birth (second child) 22; appearance 128, 493; character 65, 74, 446, 477, 483, 509; childhood 26, 27–31, 33–5, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47–52; contracts polio 30, 31; education 41, 42, 43, 79; sensitive to ghosts 44; and riding 48, 420; and ‘Bailey Week’ 49; and dancing lessons 53; and Girl Guides 54; and Nancy’s teasing 54, 55, 77; runs general strike canteen 55; love of country life 65, 74; coming out 74, 76–7; trip to Paris 81; brief engagement to Oliver Watney 96–7, 128; visit to Swastika 97–8; manages Biddesden 127–8, 167; relationship with John Betjeman 128–30; supports Diana 150; attends BUF meetings 164; leaves Biddesden and travels 185–6; meets Hitler 186; marriage to Derek Jackson 214–17, 261; gynaecological surgery and miscarriages 241, 261, 403; visits Decca in New York and takes transatlantic flight 291–3; relationship with Decca 301–2, 446, 496, 498, 509; takes in Mosley children 324, 327; management of Rignell House farm during war 341–2; takes in Mosleys 379, 380–1; move to Ireland 419–20; divorce 420–1; move to Switzerland 420; love of travelling 420; helps Nancy with research 488; and Nancy’s illness 489, 491; opposition to biography of Unity 496, 498; appears in documentary on Nancy 508, 509; holiday with Diana 515–16; death 517–19
Mitford, Rosemary, later Bailey (cousin) 35, 47, 49, 119, 261; marriage 351
Mitford, Sydney, née Bowles, Lady Redesdale (mother): appearance 15; character 15, 20, 21–2, 59–60, 61–2, 71–2, 126, 245; childhood, education and meeting with David 9–11, 12–13, 14–15, 19–20; love of the sea 12–13, 21; marriage 15–16; births of children 17–18, 20, 22, 33, 41, 47, 110; household management 20–1, 76; and Old Mill Cottage 26–7; and country pursuits 29–30; attitude to health and food 30–1, 44, 121, 268; visits to Canada 32–3; and finances 37, 40–1, 42–3, 44, 68, 201; and Batsford 39–44; attitude to education 41, 56, 103, 105, 116–17; relationship with husband 41–2; and move to Asthall Manor 44; relationship with children 58, 59–62; local work 58, 59; and death of father 62; welcomes visitors 70; as daughters’ chaperone 75–6, 79; trips to Paris 78, 79–82, 165, 171, 202; and Rutland Gate 82, 331, 332–3; as pianist 86; dislike of Swinbrook House 87; reaction to daughters’ engagements 95, 96, 97; dislike of Bright Young People 111; children’s nicknames for 124; favourite hymn 129; reaction to daughters’ books 148, 424, 465, 466–7, 472–3; conflict with Nancy 149, 301, 331–3; reaction to Diana’s relationship with Mosley 150, 164–5, 212; visits to Germany 171, 174, 176–7, 181, 253, 268, 269; and Fascism 181; meets Hitler and supports him 185, 243, 293, 300, 301; reaction to daughters’ links with Nazis 189, 192, 193; cruises 202–4; and Decca’s elopement 224, 227, 230–1, 232, 235, 236–7, 240, 244; visit to Italy and Austria 242–3; and daughters’ portraits 254; and press publicity 258, 274; and Decca’s baby 258–9; and Inch Kenneth 287, 400–3, 438; correspondence with Decca 301, 304, 339–40, 382–3, 385–7, 395, 403, 432; fetches Unity from Switzerland 305–10; split with David over her Fascism 310–12, 332, 333–4, 399–400; nurses Unity 312, 332; visits Diana in prison 329, 359; and wartime conditions 341, 382–3; begs Decca to come home 351, 366; and daughters’ illnesses 352–3; appeals for Mosleys’ release 377–8; and Tom’s death 393, 394–5, 400; visits Decca 406–8; and Unity’s death 412–13; and family albums 432, 439; attitude to Decca 428, 436, 446; still sees David 436; and Decca’s visit 438; and David’s death 455; illness 466; death 474–6
Mitford, Tom: birth (third child) 22; appearance 114; character 92–3, 245; childhood 23–5, 27–31, 33–5, 41, 44–5, 47–52; education 41, 42, 43–5; chooses books for father’s library 45; dislike of hunting 48; relationship with sisters 50, 51, 52, 73, 111, 173–4; friendships 74, 93, 114–15, 243, 390–1; as musician 86, 93; studies German 92, 98; sexuality 93, 97; love of Germany 93; studies law 93, 167; support for Decca 106, 231, 257, 394–5; and Fascism 107, 186, 197, 257, 286, 391, 461, 508–9; as skater 114; holiday in Venice 141; girlfriends 141; disapproval of Diana’s affair 145–6; meets Hitler and attends Nazi rally 186, 197; in Territorial Army 244, 286; war service and postings 301, 350, 354, 377, 386–7, 389; lobbies for improvement in Mosleys’ prison conditions 363; leave 390–2, 414; thinks of marrying 391; death in Burma 392–5, 400–1
Mitford, Tommy (uncle) 48, 82
Mitford, Unity Valkyrie (‘Bobo’): conception in Swastika and birth (fifth child) 33; appearance 100, 125, 173; character 103, 106, 118, 125–6, 266–7; childhood 41, 44–5, 47–52, 55, 65, 72, 73, 88, 89, 99–100, 103; dislike of hunting 48, 106; and Society of Hons 51; relationship with sisters 52; education at home 76, 81; trip to Paris 81; pets 90, 109, 125, 206, 308, 382; gives Pam’s ring to Hitler 96–7; boredom 106; as skater 114; school attendances and expulsions 116–17, 119–20; closeness to Decca 118, 122, 173, 190, 191, 203–4, 257–8, 260, 283, 412–13; early interest in Fascism 118, 121–2, 140, 159; coming out 124–5, 140; friendship with Rudbin Farrer 124–5; favourite hymn 129; and art school 150; support for Diana 150; joins BUF 156, 157, 163–4; visits Germany and attends first Nazi rally 159–62; finishing year in Germany 166–7, 171–7, 181–9, 202; depicted in Wigs on the Green 168–70, 193–4, 197, 212; tries to see Hitler 172, 175–6, 181; reaction to Night of the Long Knives 173; attends Nazi rallies 174; salutes Putsch memorial and embarrasses mother 176–7; first meetings with Hitler 181–7; letter to Der Stürmer and subsequent publicity 187–91; anti-Semitism 187–9, 285–6; owns pistol 190; activism in England 190–1, 264–6; chaperoned by father in Munich 192–3; and family cruise 202–4; attacks on 203, 265–6; life in Germany and developing friendship with Hitler 204–5, 206–8, 231, 244, 247–52; boyfriend 206; reaction to Decca’s elopement 228–9, 231, 235, 237; correspondence with Churchill about Austria 242; concern to prevent war 249, 289, 290; extent of relationship with Hitler 250–1, 258, 266, 267–9, 287–8; and Putzi Hanfstaengl’s defection 251–3, 284–5; arrested in Prague 266; illness 268–9; relationship with Janos von Almassy 270, 290; writes article for Daily Mirror 284; friendship with Erna Hanfstaengl stopped by Hitler 284–5; Hitler arranges flat for 285–6, 290; visit to England (1939) 286; alleged remark to Hitler on London defences 288–9; and onset of war 288–91, 295; threatens suicide if war breaks out 289, 290; refusal to return to England 290; suicide attempt 295–300, 303, 304; reaches Switzerland and brought back to England 304–11; effect of brain damage 311–12, 313, 314, 333–4, 391–2; interest in religion 313, 411; appearance at Debo’s wedding leads to questions in parliament 340; recovery 340–1, 377, 389, 391, 411; love of Swinbrook 403; illness and death 411–13; Pryce-Jones’s biography causes rift among sisters 494–9
Mitford Girls, The (musical) 509
Monckton, Walter 363
Morrell, Theodor 268
Morris, Sir William 136
Morrison, Herbert 340, 359–60, 378, 380
Mortimer, Raymond 444, 450–1
Mosley, Alexander 273, 359, 381, 414, 415, 418, 423, 457–8
Mosley, Cynthia, née Curzon (‘Cimmie’) 139–40, 141, 142, 143, 320; death 154–5
Mosley, Diana see Mitford, Diana
Mosley, Max 320, 327, 381, 414, 415, 418, 423, 457–8, 510, 525
Mosley, Nicholas 140, 197, 198, 199, 200, 213, 253, 274–5, 322, 364, 415; Rules of the Game 509–10
Mosley, Oswald: appearance 134; character 136–7; meets Diana 131–2; political career 133–9, 142, 143–4, 153, 163, 164, 194–6, 208; speeches 134; books 138, 142, 416, 461; first marriage 139–41; affairs 139–40, 157, 197–8, 199; affair with Diana 141–6, 153–7, 164–5, 197–200; and fencing 142–3; and Cimmie’s death 154–6; meeting with Hitler 184–5; and anti-Semitism 196, 417, 517; reaction to Wigs on the Green 196–7; marries Diana secretly in Germany 200–1, 211–12; and BUF finances 208–10, 321; homes 213–14, 273, 320–1, 381–2, 419; Hitler’s view of 248–9; relationship with Mitfords 260; campaigns for peace 263, 286, 288, 321; activism against 264; marriage made public on birth of child 273–5; public image 321–2, 361–2; puts BUF at disposal of British armed forces 321; imprisonment 323–4, 325–6, 329,
362–5; appeal 360–2; sues Daily Mirror 362–3; release triggers protests 374–5, 376–81; illness 377, 378, 380, 381; and Tom’s death 393–4; post-war activities 413–19, 459–60; belief in European Union 416–17; induces Foreign Office to issue passport and buys yacht for Mediterranean cruise 418–19; loss of Clonfert and move to France 458, 459; success of marriage 459; attacked 460; Decca’s dislike of 470; illness and death 503–4; interviews and articles 503, 504; portrayed in Diana’s book 506; son’s book on 509–10; see also British Union of Fascists
Mosley, Vivien 198, 199, 321, 415
Mossman, James 503
Moyne, Lord 145, 325
Münchener Zeitung 188
Munich 167, 172, 174, 175, 181, 206, 244, 247, 288, 297; Pinakothek 175
Murray, Marjorie 62
Mussolini, Benito 137, 138, 139, 144, 184, 204, 249, 267, 321
My Answer (Oswald Mosley) 416
My Life (Oswald Mosley) 461
Nancy Mitford (Selina Hastings) 511–12
Nancy Mitford - a Portrait by Her Sisters (TV documentary) 07
National Press 21
National Trust 441, 525
‘Natty’, Aunt see Hozier, Blanche
Nazi-Soviet Pact 290
Nazis 107, 159–60, 171, 181, 184, 187, 205–6, 284; Kristallnacht 263; Night of the Long Knives 172–3; Nuremberg rallies 160–2, 174, 175, 187, 197, 212, 253, 269–70; and Olympic Games 206–7; treatment of Jews 187, 195–6, 263; see also Fascism; Hitler, Adolf
Nebby Lou (Dinky’s friend) 435, 436, 443, 446
Nevile, Peter 220, 224, 226, 234, 236, 238, 240, 281
New Orleans 318
New Party 136, 504
New Statesman 506
New York Daily Mirror 282
New York World Fair 292
News Chronicle 219, 221, 228, 234, 236, 238
News of the World 214
Nichols, Beverly 119, 204
Nicolson, Harold 136
Nicolson, Nigel 161
Night of the Long Knives 172
Noblesse Oblige (ed. Nancy Mitford) 451–3
Norman family 24, 41, 42
Nuffield, Lord see Morris, Sir William
Oakes, Harry 32, 316
Oakland, California 404, 432–4, 470, 524
Oban 287, 412
Observer 506
Office of Price Administration, US 365, 366–7, 369, 370, 372
Ogilvie-Grant, Mark 68, 147–8, 153, 475
Ogilvy, Blanche see Hozier, Blanche
Ogilvy, Clementine see Mitford, Clementine, Lady Redesdale
Ohio State University 420, 458
Old Mill Cottage 26–31, 89, 109, 116, 117, 189, 201, 215, 244, 308, 309
Olympic Games 205, 206–7
O’Neil, Middy 81, 97, 108
OPA see Office of Price Administration
Ormsby Gore, Mary 286
Orwell, Sonia 482–3, 484
Osteria Bavaria, Munich 172, 175, 181–2, 186, 267
Other Club 135
Out of Bounds (magazine) 179–80, 220
Oxford 49, 70, 341
Pack, Arthur 233
Pakenham, Frank 59, 135, 460–1, 502–3, 505
Palewski, Gaston 355–8, 396–9, 424–6, 453–4, 461–2, 502, 512; appearance 356; depiction and dedication in The Pursuit of Love 357–8, 390, 397–8, 408–9; marriage 485–6; and Nancy’s illness 489, 491–2
Panorama (TV programme) 503
Parents’ National Education Union 53, 56, 89
Paris 202, 525–6; Mitfords at finishing school in 78, 79–81, 82, 83–5, 165–6, 171, 467–8; Nancy and 81–2, 396–9, 403, 425, 426–7, 444–5, 482–3, 485
Parsifal (Wagner) 207
Pearl Harbour 347
Penrhos College 422
People’s Weekly 444
Pierrat, Mademoiselle 53
Pigeon Pie (Nancy Mitford) 309–10, 450, 452
Plugge, Captain 209
PNEU see Parents’ National Education Union
Poison Penmanship (Jessica Mitford) 481
Pontresina, Switzerland 114–15
Pool Place 102, 111
Praed Street depot 301
Price, Ward 270
Princesse de Cleves, The (trans. Nancy Mitford) 453
Pryce-Jones, David 121–2, 494–9
Public Order Act (1936) 195
Pursuit of Love, The (Nancy Mitford)185, 354, 395–6, 403, 450, 451; coming out ball 66–7; dedication 397–8, 408–9; engagement ring episode 96; Fabrice de Sauveterre 357–8, 390, 397–8; Lord Merlin 162–3, 415; televised 29, 507; see also ‘Matthew, Uncle’
Queen Mary, HMS 384
Radio Luxembourg 208–9, 255
Radio Normandie 209
Rathcreedon, Lord 202–3
Raubal, Angela (‘Geli’) 250, 299
Ravensdale, Irene 155, 156, 157, 274–5, 289, 320, 321, 325
Redesdale, 1st Lady see Mitford, Clementine
Redesdale, 2nd Lady see Mitford, Sydney
Redesdale, 1st Lord see Mitford, Algernon
Redesdale, 2nd Lord see Mitford, David
Redesdale Cottage 399–400, 410, 436, 454–5
Rennell, Baron 152
Reynaud, Paul 355
Ribbentrop, Joachim von 196, 207, 298
Riefenstahl, Leni 250–1
Rignell House 215, 324, 327, 341, 379, 380–1, 419
Robeson, Paul 443
Rodd, Nancy see Mitford, Nancy
Rodd, Peter (‘Prod’) 194, 389; background and character 151–3; engagement and marriage to Nancy 151–3, 164, 165; joins BUF then turns against Fascism 168, 196; affairs 212–13, 276; and Decca’s elopement 229, 233, 234, 235, 236; finances 275–6; charity work 293, 294; war service 301, 330, 354, 356; state of marriage 355; unexpected leave 390; attempt to be MP 421; divorce 421; opinion of Noblesse Oblige 453
Rodzianko, Joan see Farrer, Joan
Rodzianko, Michael 464
Roehm, Ernst 172–3
Romilly, Bertram 25, 316
Romilly, Constancia (‘Dinky’) 412–13, 462; birth and childhood 337–8, 348, 365, 367, 385–6, 448; character 343, 386, 404–5; appearance 371–2, 477; relationship with Bob 374, 406, 525; and Sydney’s visit 406, 407; and Decca’s court appearance 430, 431, 432; and brother’s death 433, 434; trips to UK and Europe 435, 436, 439, 444, 446, 477; quits college 472; career and marriage 482, 519–20; and Decca’s alcoholism 519–20; and Decca’s death 522, 523
Romilly, Esmond Mark 291, 401–2, 449, 468, 469–70; childhood 25, 121; rumour that Churchill was his father 26; early left-wing activities, and Decca’s fascination with 170, 179–80, 204; writing 170, 179, 235–6, 238–9, 314; meets and elopes with Decca 218–37, 375; marries Decca 237–40; jobs 238, 255, 302; and gambling 239–40, 256–7; home in Rotherhithe 240, 254–5; opinion of Mitfords 243, 250, 257–8, 283, 509; plunders rich friends 256; birth and death of Julia 258–60; activism 263–4; and Decca’s abortion 271; reaction to Chamberlain’s pact 277; finances 277–8, 281–2; emigration and farewell raid on Eton College 278–80, 281–3; moves to Washington 302–3; moves to Miami and opens bar 314–16, 317; war service, leave and correspondence with Decca 317, 318, 319–20, 341, 342–5; visits New Orleans 318; birth of Dinky 337; death 345–52; Churchill’s affection for 349–50