Malcolm Munthe
Encyclopedia
Major Malcolm Munthe MC
(30 January 1910–24 November 1995) was a British soldier, writer, and curator, and son of the famous Swedish doctor and writer Axel Munthe
and his second wife Hilda Pennington-Mellor.
in Herefordshire and Southside House
in Wimbledon, Malcolm Munthe became a British citizen at the outbreak of World War II
in order to fight, since Sweden would be neutral throughout the war.
He was assigned to the Gordon Highlanders for no other reason than his first name's Scottish roots. Later recruited to the Special Operations Executive
, he worked behind enemy lines in occupied Scandinavia - both in Norway
and Sweden - as a spy and saboteur, famously blowing up a Nazi munitions train only miles from his own family home in Leksand, Dalarna
. After a harrowing escape, recounted in his wartime memoir Sweet is War, he was put in charge of SOE's activities in Southern Italy, where he participated in the Anzio landings
.
In Scandinavia, Major Munthe had established a network of 'Friends' which he called the "Red Horse", in imitation of the Baroness Orczy's Scarlet Pimpernel. In Southern Italy, he took the mimicry further, dressing as a (large) old lady to smuggle a radio transmitter past Nazi lines and coordinate SOE activity in the occupied zone. Munthe was also instrumental in the rescue of liberal philosopher Benedetto Croce
and his family, held captive in Sorrento, and their flight to Capri where his father Axel Munthe's house Villa San Michele
provided shelter.
Major Malcolm Munthe was decorated with the Military Cross
for bravery.
, 2nd Baron Rea
, who was personal staff officer to Brigadier Colin Gubbins
(the Head of SOE), and later leader of the Liberal party in the British House of Lords. They had three children, Adam John Munthe (1946 - ), Guy Sebastian Munthe (1948 - 1992) and Katriona Munthe-Lindgren (1955 - ).
After an abortive attempt at a political career with the Conservative Party, Munthe re-directed his work towards maintaining the family homes in England, Sweden and Italy. He sold his father's remaining properties on Capri (the Villa Materita, inter alia), and bought the Castello di Lunghezza
, a 108-room castle outside Rome. He opened Hildasholm, the property Axel Munthe had built for his wife Hilda in northern Sweden, to the public, and did the same for Hellens
and Southside House
in England under the auspices of the Pennington-Mellor-Munthe Charity Trust, now (2007) chaired by his eldest son Adam John Munthe.
Munthe dedicated his later years to running those properties, and writing, including a history of Hellens, Hellen's, Much Marcle, Herefordshire and Special Forces Club.
Described by Sir Angus Ogilvy
as 'the last true English eccentric', he died at Southside House in November 1995.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(30 January 1910–24 November 1995) was a British soldier, writer, and curator, and son of the famous Swedish doctor and writer Axel Munthe
Axel Munthe
Axel Martin Fredrik Munthe was a Swedish psychiatrist, best known as the author of The Story of San Michele, an autobiographical account of his life and work....
and his second wife Hilda Pennington-Mellor.
Early life and Second World War
Brought up between the Swedish court, Italy, and Britain, where his mother owned two large houses, HellensHellens
Hellens Manor, also known as Hellens House or simply Hellens and located in the village of Much Marcle in Herefordshire is one of the oldest dwellings in England, currently primarily composed of Tudor style architecture, but some elements may be far older.-History:The manor was granted to the de...
in Herefordshire and Southside House
Southside House
Southside House is a 17th century house located on the south side of Wimbledon Common. The house was built for Robert Pennington, who had shared Charles II's exile in Holland. In 1687 after losing his son to the Bubonic Plague, Pennington left London for Holme Farm, Wimbledon, which at that time...
in Wimbledon, Malcolm Munthe became a British citizen at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in order to fight, since Sweden would be neutral throughout the war.
He was assigned to the Gordon Highlanders for no other reason than his first name's Scottish roots. Later recruited to the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
, he worked behind enemy lines in occupied Scandinavia - both in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Sweden - as a spy and saboteur, famously blowing up a Nazi munitions train only miles from his own family home in Leksand, Dalarna
Dalarna
', English exonym: Dalecarlia, is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. Another English language form established in literature is the Dales. Places involving the element Dalecarlia exist in the United States....
. After a harrowing escape, recounted in his wartime memoir Sweet is War, he was put in charge of SOE's activities in Southern Italy, where he participated in the Anzio landings
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
.
In Scandinavia, Major Munthe had established a network of 'Friends' which he called the "Red Horse", in imitation of the Baroness Orczy's Scarlet Pimpernel. In Southern Italy, he took the mimicry further, dressing as a (large) old lady to smuggle a radio transmitter past Nazi lines and coordinate SOE activity in the occupied zone. Munthe was also instrumental in the rescue of liberal philosopher Benedetto Croce
Benedetto Croce
Benedetto Croce was an Italian idealist philosopher, and occasionally also politician. He wrote on numerous topics, including philosophy, history, methodology of history writing and aesthetics, and was a prominent liberal, although he opposed laissez-faire free trade...
and his family, held captive in Sorrento, and their flight to Capri where his father Axel Munthe's house Villa San Michele
Villa San Michele
The Villa San Michele was built around the turn of the 20th century by the Swedish physician, Axel Munthe, on the ruins of the Roman Emperor Tiberius's villa, on the Isle of Capri, Italy. Its gardens have panoramic views of Capri town and its marina, the Sorrentine Peninsula and Mount Vesuvius...
provided shelter.
Major Malcolm Munthe was decorated with the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for bravery.
Postwar life
After the war, Major Munthe continued to work in the military, and became active in social projects (described in his book The Bunty Boys). In 1945, he married the Right Hon. Ann Felicity Rea (born 15 January 1923), whom he met through her father Philip Russell ReaPhilip Rea, 2nd Baron Rea
Philip Russell Rea, 2nd Baron Rea PC was a British peer, Liberal politician and Merchant Banker.The eldest son of Walter Rea, a Liberal politician, and his first wife, Evelyn, Rea was educated at Westminster School, and then at Oxford University, where he graduated BA and later MA, and lastly at...
, 2nd Baron Rea
Baron Rea
Baron Rea, of Eskdale in the County of Cumberland, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1937 for the businessman and Liberal politician Sir Walter Rea, 1st Baronet, who had earlier represented Scarborough, Bradford North and Dewsbury in the House of Commons. He had...
, who was personal staff officer to Brigadier Colin Gubbins
Colin Gubbins
Major-General Sir Colin McVean Gubbins KCMG, DSO, MC was the prime mover of the Special Operations Executive in the Second World War....
(the Head of SOE), and later leader of the Liberal party in the British House of Lords. They had three children, Adam John Munthe (1946 - ), Guy Sebastian Munthe (1948 - 1992) and Katriona Munthe-Lindgren (1955 - ).
After an abortive attempt at a political career with the Conservative Party, Munthe re-directed his work towards maintaining the family homes in England, Sweden and Italy. He sold his father's remaining properties on Capri (the Villa Materita, inter alia), and bought the Castello di Lunghezza
Castello di Lunghezza
The Castello di Lunghezza is a medieval fortification situated roughly east of Rome, Italy. It lies in Municipio VIII of Rome, and probably sits on the site of the ancient town of Collatia.-History:...
, a 108-room castle outside Rome. He opened Hildasholm, the property Axel Munthe had built for his wife Hilda in northern Sweden, to the public, and did the same for Hellens
Hellens
Hellens Manor, also known as Hellens House or simply Hellens and located in the village of Much Marcle in Herefordshire is one of the oldest dwellings in England, currently primarily composed of Tudor style architecture, but some elements may be far older.-History:The manor was granted to the de...
and Southside House
Southside House
Southside House is a 17th century house located on the south side of Wimbledon Common. The house was built for Robert Pennington, who had shared Charles II's exile in Holland. In 1687 after losing his son to the Bubonic Plague, Pennington left London for Holme Farm, Wimbledon, which at that time...
in England under the auspices of the Pennington-Mellor-Munthe Charity Trust, now (2007) chaired by his eldest son Adam John Munthe.
Munthe dedicated his later years to running those properties, and writing, including a history of Hellens, Hellen's, Much Marcle, Herefordshire and Special Forces Club.
Described by Sir Angus Ogilvy
Angus Ogilvy
Sir Angus James Bruce Ogilvy, was a British businessman best known as the husband of Princess Alexandra of Kent, a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II....
as 'the last true English eccentric', he died at Southside House in November 1995.