The picture image above is Batsford Park, one time seat of the Redesdales
NEW BOOK FROM ON THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HON. THOMAS DAVID FREEMAN-MITFORD
TOM MITFORD : A FEARFUL OLD TWISTER
A NEW BOOK FROM WILLIAM CROSS, FSA SCOT
Copies of the book are available from William Cross.
email Will williecross@aol.com
Good priced copies are on ebay:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205370860408
A SHORT NOTE ON TOM MITFORD
Tom Mitford died 80 years ago this year (2025) on Good Friday, 30 March 1945. It is therefore a most fitting time to give him a retrospective glance, a biographical sketch, and this is why this narrative has been compiled.
It first takes the form and outline of a chronology/timeline from Tom’s birth in 1909 onwards, through his early childhood days growing up in wartime London, then to the Cotswolds countryside alongside his somewhat dysfunctional parents and sisters. Then, in 1919, on to prep School at Locker’s Park, Hemel Hempstead, where he made several friends for life amongst his contemporaries, some of whom are themselves minor historical figures. Next, in 1922, onward to Eton College, and in 1928 to Tom’s serious study of music and law and facing the growing pangs of temptation and love in Hungary, Austria and Germany, followed by his return home to train at the bar and become a barrister, and was some time a Judge.
Later on in the 1930s Tom’s glorified chaperone role to serve his Nazi-loving sisters Diana and Unity in sometimes driving them though Nazi Germany where he was compelled to meet Adolf Hitler and attend propaganda rallies. Drawn into the politics of the time in the flare path of his sisters’ alarming beliefs, he does seem vulnerable to accusations of sharing more than a curiosity about the Nazis, particularly based on some pro-Nazi remarks he made in the 1940s, a confession of his beliefs to an old school friend, James Lees-Milne. That disclosure has been taken as confirming Tom’s much truer posture, yet it may also be an example of Tom’s ability to twist things round so that people hear what they want to hear.
Other aspects of Tom’s life are considered, too. Central to them is his branding as being a pleasure-seeker of sexual experiences, some of them on the edge of being decadent and depraved. Tom’s many “love” (read carnal) affairs with men and women are covered. Also previously unpublished letters, written by Tom in his long, fiery relationship with the Austrian ballet dancer Tilly Losch.
Besides all that, there is passing mention of some of Tom’s court cases as a lawyer, and as Judge Advocate presiding over Army Court Martials. Also his Territorial Army days, his wartime exploits and his weeks in the jungle in Burma before being hit by a sniper’s bullet.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE BOOK PLEASE EMAIL THE COMPILER WILLIAM CROSS
An Illustrated talk on Tom Mitford by William Cross FSA Scot
Tom Mitford ( 1909-1945)
A clever, gifted man, with brilliant musical talents albeit harboring a darker, brooding side and personality flaws. He was involved in the notorious ‘Bruno Hat’ Art hoax of 1929 a sting that remains one of the best tales from the Bright Young Things era. As a barrister Tom was a junior in the curious Rattenbury Murder case of 1935 and defended a man who claimed to have a right to the British throne. Tom’s male contemporaries including epic diarist James Lees-Milne, Randolph ‘The Rabbit’ Churchill ( son of Winston) and travel writer Robert Byron clung to him as a friend and lover. Tom wooed and was seduced by both sexes, he lived his short life as he wished, he could be diffident, difficult and self- centred, a serious intellectual and aesthetic and heir to a family barony. Being fluent in the German language he was a great admirer of Germany the country, its history, art and culture; he flirted with fascism in the 1930s, meeting Hitler, and attended the Nuremberg Rallies and seeming following Oswald Mosley, lover then husband of Tom’s sister Diana. Tom later fought bravely in North Africa, Italy, & finally Burma where he was killed at the age of just 36, leading a British force from against a small group of Japanese occupying a wooded rise.
Society Author William Cross, FSA Scot has made a close study of Tom Mitford’s life,loves, career and the relationship with his well known sisters and parents. This illustrated talk will shock and amuse : this is a detailed insight into one topsy-turvy, dysfunctional family, perhaps Britain first soap opera. Tom’s family memorial at St Mary’s Church, Swinbrook records him as being a “very perfect son and brother”. But was he?
For more details contact William Cross, FSA Scot by e-mail