THE MITFORD SISTERS (AND BROTHER) PART 1

IF YOU’RE PLAGUED BY A MAGA UNCLE or other errant family members, rest easy: It coulda been worse. I doubt there was any more dysfunctional set of offspring than those of David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, and his wife, Sydney Bowles. Wikipedia cites a journalist describing the Mitford girls as “Diana the Fascist, Jessica the Communist, Unity the Hitler-lover, Nancy the Novelist, Deborah the Duchess, and Pamala the unobtrusive poultry connoisseur.” Out of kindnessy, perhaps, the journalist omitted their brother Thomas, who managed to combine several of life’s eccentricities on his own. 

Here, in Parts 1 and 2 today and tomorrow, are tidbits of these talented kids; all, quite enough to encourage the baron and his wife’s afternoon Pimms. Let’s arrange the mini bios in birth order.

The Mitford family and pet pals in 1928. Image from Wikipedia.

The Parents. Lord Redesdale’s family history dates back to the 14th century and its Plantagenet kings. According to The Mitford Society’s “The Girl Who Became Muv,” Sydney Bowles’ upbringing “was, as her daughters were apt to say, pathos personified.” From the age of eight, she was “left in the care of her eccentric father,” who sent his two sons off to school and took Sydney and her sister for extended voyages on his 150-ton schooner. 

Sydney’s unconventional youth and complex encounters with husband-to-be David make for fascinating reading: “There were whispers in society,” The Mitford Society observes, “that Sydney accepted David’s proposal on the rebound from Jimmy Meade, whose proposal she almost accepted [before learning he was a womaniser].”

Sydney and David were married in 1904, ten years after they met at the Redesdale country house. The Baroness Redesdale died in 1963 at the age of 83. Mckenzie Franklin adds “Sydney, Baroness Redesdale: 21 Glimpses of the Woman Who Raised The Mitfords,” Mostly British History, September 9, 2025. 

By the way, Andrew Parker Bowles, former husband of Queen Camilla, comes from a different branch of the Bowles family.

Nancy Mitford. This and the following images from BBC News. 

Nancy Mitford, 1904–1973, English novelist, biographer, and journalist. Wikipedia notes that Nancy “was regarded as one of the ‘bright young things‘ on the London social scene in the inter-war period.” She made an appearance at “U or Non-U, Redux,” SimanaitisSays, April 5, 2013, which described her co-editing the tongue-in-cheek Noblisse Oblige, an Enquiry into the Identifiable Characteristics of the British Aristocracy, 1956.

Nancy’s two semi-autographical works, The Pursuit of Love, 1945, and Love in a Cold Climate, 1949, established her reputation as a novelist.

Pamela Mitford.

Pamela “Pam” Mitford, 1907—1994, English socialite. Wikipedia notes that Pamala “married and later divorced millionaire physicist Derek Jackson, and spent much of the 1960s living with Giuditta Tommasi (died 1993), an Italian horsewoman.  Her sister Jessica described her as having become a “you-know-what-bian”, although Diana was less certain.” 

The Mitford Society observes, “Although all her life Pamela had been the victim of her sisters’ teasing, and, as Diana said, ‘Pam was often right but seldom listened to’, she was the sister they relied on most.”

Thomas Mitford. Image from Wikipedia.

Thomas David “Tom” Mitford, 1909—1945. Wikipedia recounts that Tom “was educated at Eton, where he had an affair with James Lees-Milne. He later had a lengthy affair with Austrian Jewish dancer Tilly Losch during her marriage to Edward James. According to Jessica’s letters, Thomas supported British fascism and was posted to the Burma campaign after he had refused to fight in Europe. He died in action.”

Diana Mitford. 

Diana Mitford, Lady Mosley, 1910 –2003).  Diana was a British fascist, aristocrat, writer and editor. She was married to Bryan Guinness of the Anglo-Irish brewing family 1929—1933, and later to Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists (and known to be habitually unfaithful). Diana had four children: Jonathan Guinness, 3rd Baron Moyne;  Desmond Guinness; Alexander Mosley; and Max Mosley.

Motor sports enthusiasts may recall son Max Mosley’s complex involvement in Formula One. There was also his winning a court case against the News of the World Newspaper, which “had reported his involvement in what it said was a Nazi-themed sex act involving five women.” 

Tomorrow in Part 2, we’ll continue Mitford family adventures, albeit with nothing quite so juicy. ds

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2026