Nazi Princess Read Online Free Page B

forced to turn back and try to find a route out via Spain. They never made it. They were caught and interned in Grenoble, and it was there, on 8 February 1943, that Jack was taken ill with heart disease and died at the age of 51.
    As for Annabel, she languished in her ‘half world’. Through the first two years of the war she was looked after by her sister-in-law. In 1940 Ridge House was hit by a German bomb. Although it was not damaged beyond repair, Annabel and Lilian moved to Great Copse House at Eversley in Hampshire. With Jack’s money gone and his assets on the Continent confiscated, Annabel was living chiefly off the proceeds raised by the sale of her jewellery. She died at Great Copse House on 22 March 1941.
    John Kruse, Jack’s son by his previous marriage who had been brought up to regard Annabel as his mother, was called up for military service on the outbreak of the Second World War. He served as a liaison officer in India and the Middle East, and returned to England at the end of hostilities to find his home bombed, Annabel and his father dead and no family business. All the wealth, luxury and classic cars he had known as a child had disappeared. He had to earn a living and he did so by driving a tar lorry for the local council during the day, and using his talent as a storyteller to write short stories at night. He succeeded in supporting his wife and young child, and embarked on a flourishing literary career which was to span four decades.
    After quitting his lorry driving to take a job as clapper-board operator at Pinewood Film Studios, he quickly rose through the ranks to cameraman. The whaling scenes in Moby Dick were shot through his lens. Meanwhile, his short stories developed naturally into film scripts. His first feature film, Hell Drivers , in 1957, featured a young Sean Connery among its cast. Then television beckoned, and soon John was scripting some of the most-watched TV series of the 1960s and ’70s, including The Avengers , Shoestring , Colditz and The Persuaders! . His work culminated in the classic The Saint series, starring Roger Moore, for which he was principal writer. After leaving England with his family in 1981 to live in Spain, John wrote three novels, including the bestseller Red Omega . He then turned to another artistic talent: painting. Over the years his artistic output was seen by thousands of people in bars, restaurants and exhibitions in the area of Spain in which he lived. John Kruse died in 2004.
    With the death of Lord Rothermere in November 1940, the Stody estate in Norfolk and the press baron’s other assets passed to his only remaining son and heir, Esmond Harmsworth. Collin Brooks was obliged to give up The Mount which proved to be a point of conflict between Esmond and Brooks. Before Rothermere had left England, he apparently signed ownership of The Mount over to Brooks. However, Esmond sought Brooks’ eviction. Brooks confided in his diary that, aside from sentimental attachment, ‘it’s going will be a blessing for my diminished income cannot keep paying for its upkeep’. 4 The Stody estate was put up for sale by the new Lord Rothermere and purchased in the early 1940s by George Knight. He appointed my father as agent for the whole estate, and my father remained in that role throughout the war years until the early 1950s.
    Collin Brooks became chairman and editor of Truth , a magazine aimed at political and society issues. He was a prolific writer with over fifty books to his name. He also appeared in many BBC programmes, including being a member of the original ‘Any Questions’ team and frequently taking part in the BBC’s Brains Trust . He died in 1959 and his long-time friend, the distinguished poet T.S. Eliot, gave the address at his memorial service in the Fleet Street church of St Bride’s.
    As for Princess Stephanie’s female rivals for Hitler’s attention, the Mitford sisters: Unity was shattered by the outbreak of war between the two countries