Major Malcolm Grane Ludovic Martin Munthe (30 January 1910 – 24 November 1995) was a British soldier, writer, and curator. He was the son of the Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe and his English second wife, Hilda Pennington‑Mellor.
Early life
Munthe was born in Westminster, London, and spent his childhood between the Swedish court, Italy, and Britain. His mother owned two notable residences in England: Hellens in Herefordshire and Southside House in Wimbledon. He became a British citizen at the outbreak of the Second World War. He was educated at King’s College School, Wimbledon, and also received schooling abroad.
Military career
During the war Munthe served with the Gordon Highlanders, reflecting his Scottish‑sounding first name. He was recruited into the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and operated in Scandinavia, conducting espionage and sabotage behind enemy lines in occupied Norway and in neutral Sweden. He later oversaw SOE activities in southern Italy, taking part in the Anzio landings and assisting in the rescue of the philosopher Benedetto Croce and his family. Munthe was awarded the Military Cross for bravery. Some of his wartime claims, such as responsibility for a German munitions‑train explosion, have been noted as uncertain.
Post‑war activities
After 1945 Munthe married Ann Felicity Rea, with whom he had three children. He pursued a brief political career with the Conservative Party before turning to the preservation of his family’s historic properties. He managed and opened to the public several estates, including Hellens, Southside House, and Hildasholm in Sweden, under the Pennington‑Mellor‑Munthe Charity Trust. He also acquired the Castello di Lunghezza near Rome.
Writing and curatorial work
Munthe authored several books, including the wartime memoir Sweet is War and works on the history of his estates such as Hellen’s, Much Marcle, Herefordshire. He curated collections of art and historic memorabilia housed at Southside House and other family properties.
Legacy
Described by contemporaries as an eccentric steward of heritage, Munthe’s efforts ensured the preservation and public accessibility of multiple historic homes in England, Sweden, and Italy. He died at Southside House in November 1995.
References: Wikipedia entry on Malcolm Munthe; obituaries and heritage articles.