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Mary Churchill's War: The Wartime Diaries of Churchill's Youngest Daughter
A unique and evocative portrait of World War II—and a charming coming-of-age story—from the private diaries of Winston Churchill's youngest daughter, Mary.
“I am not a great or important personage, but this will be the diary of an ordinary person's life in war time. Though I may never live to read it again, perhaps it may not prove altogether uninteresting as a record of my life.”
In 1939, seventeen-year-old Mary found herself in an extraordinary position at an extraordinary it was the outbreak of World War II and her father, Winston Churchill, had been appointed First Lord of the Admiralty; within months he would become prime minister.
The young Mary Churchill was uniquely placed to observe this remarkable historical moment, and her diaries—most of which have never been published until now—provide an immediate view of the great events of the war, as well as exchanges and intimate moments with her father. But these diaries also capture what it was like to be a young woman during wartime.
An impulsive and spirited writer, full of coming-of-age self-consciousness and joie de vivre , Mary's diaries are untrammeled by self-censorship or nostalgia. From aid raid sirens at 10 Downing Street to seeing action with the women’s branch of the British Army, from cocktail parties with presidents and royals to accompanying her father on key diplomatic trips, Mary's wartime diaries are full of color, rich in historical insight, and a charming and intimate portrait of life alongside Winston Churchill during a key moment of the twentieth century.
“I am not a great or important personage, but this will be the diary of an ordinary person's life in war time. Though I may never live to read it again, perhaps it may not prove altogether uninteresting as a record of my life.”
In 1939, seventeen-year-old Mary found herself in an extraordinary position at an extraordinary it was the outbreak of World War II and her father, Winston Churchill, had been appointed First Lord of the Admiralty; within months he would become prime minister.
The young Mary Churchill was uniquely placed to observe this remarkable historical moment, and her diaries—most of which have never been published until now—provide an immediate view of the great events of the war, as well as exchanges and intimate moments with her father. But these diaries also capture what it was like to be a young woman during wartime.
An impulsive and spirited writer, full of coming-of-age self-consciousness and joie de vivre , Mary's diaries are untrammeled by self-censorship or nostalgia. From aid raid sirens at 10 Downing Street to seeing action with the women’s branch of the British Army, from cocktail parties with presidents and royals to accompanying her father on key diplomatic trips, Mary's wartime diaries are full of color, rich in historical insight, and a charming and intimate portrait of life alongside Winston Churchill during a key moment of the twentieth century.
416 pages, Hardcover
Published June 7, 2022
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August 24, 2022
The just released “Mary Churchill’s War” presents the wartime diary of Winston’s youngest child, daughter Mary Churchill Soames. The diary is curated by Mary’s daughter — Winston’s granddaughter — Emma Soames. Beginning in 1939 — when Mary was 16 years old — the diary provides a fascinating and in many respects surprising behind the scenes look at Winston’s wartime years, ending with his shocking electoral defeat in July 1945. I was gifted an autographed copy of the book; eat your hearts out.
I go back and forth on whether I like the Mary Churchill who emerges from the diary. At times she appears precocious — amazingly mature and articulate for her age. At other times, she comes across as spoiled and entitled. It seems clear that the diary was never intended as a means of recording her most intimate thoughts — ideas to which she could not give voice. Instead, the diary appears to have been written in the expectation that it would be read by others. It is peppered with French and Latin phrases and allusions to classical literature that seem designed to show the reader how cultured she was.
The diary is extraordinarily judgmental. Everyone who crossed her path was critiqued, and generally in a shallow way. Mary was obsessed with physical attractiveness and wardrobe. Even her mother — “Mummy” — was not spared these reviews. Fortunately for Clementine, however, Mary found her well dressed and elegant. That compliment is repeated multiple times in the diary and, for Mary, that was high praise. Personalities are also routinely assessed. Everyone is either gay and charming or boring, dreary, and dreadful.
One theme that clearly emerges from the diary is that Mary was boy crazy. The diary recounts flirtations with literally dozens of different guys, some much older than she and some married. Whether and to what extent these relationships were sexual is not revealed. Mary fell in and out of relationships very easily. One day, she was head over heels in love; the next day, she dismissed her beau as boring. The diary reflects one broken engagement and at least three rejected marriage proposals. Her suitors included an American, a Frenchman, and a Belgian prince. She eventually married in 1946 and had five children of her own.
Mary’s relationship with her father— “Papa” — is difficult to discern from the diary. It is clear that she was fiercely loyal to him. Mary truly believed that her father was single-handedly saving western civilization, and she was equally convinced that Winston was not properly appreciated for his efforts. She became indignant if anyone had the audacity to criticize anything he said or did. But the diary suggests that she had more respect and admiration for Winston than love. There are no recorded shows of affection between them. Mary was grateful whenever Winston made any time available for her. On one occasion, for example, she gushed about him inviting her to join him for breakfast and offering her a piece of fruit. Mary did not resent the limited time Winston made available to her. Her attitude, rather, was that Winston was too important to spare time for family matters. But when they were together, the diary reports, Winston confided in Mary about matters of state.
While Winston and Clementine appeared to enjoy a stable marriage, the rest of the family was essentially dysfunctional. All three of Mary’s siblings had failed marriages — some more than one — and numerous extra-marital relationships. Brother Randolph was almost universally disliked, including by his own siblings. Mary could not forgive him for taking positions at odds with Winston’s. Mary says in her diary that she “hates” him and sees no purpose in trying to reconcile with him. Randolph’s wife had an affair with U.S. diplomat Averell Harriman during the war (and much later married him, after which Bill Clinton appointed her ambassador to France). Sister Sarah had a dalliance with American Ambassador Gil Winant, who committed suicide when she dumped him. Older sister Diana also committed suicide after her marriage dissolved. Clearly, the Churchill household does not conjure images of the Ozzie and Harriet clan.
Despite these personal problems, all members of the family served the war effort in some capacity. Mary joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, which was the women’s branch of the British Army. In that capacity, Mary became part of an anti-aircraft battery, serving in various parts of England, Wales, and later on the continent. It at first seemed strange to me that a woman would be assigned to such a detail until I remembered from my Downton Abbey viewing that aristocratic women at the time hunted for entertainment. Mary eventually rose to the rank of captain and was recognized as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her efforts. Perhaps I am being cynical, but is it possible that her father had something to do with that honor?
Surprisingly, Mary’s wartime service did not interfere to any significant extent with her social life. She had no trouble securing leaves of absence from the ATS whenever there was something better that she wanted to do. Perhaps I am being unfair to her, but I am not convinced that the average grunt enjoyed the same privileges. The diary records her attending parties several times a week — accompanied by a host of handsome young men, staying until the middle of the night, and sleeping until noon the following morning. She regularly enjoyed drinks and dining with her circle of friends at fashionable watering holes and posh restaurants. Mary frequently attended movies, plays, and concerts, and she loved to dance. She regularly went shopping — that was one of the few experiences she shared with Mummy — and she could not thereafter return to her anti-aircraft gun without first having her hair and nails done. Although Mary’s experience was likely not typical for a London-area resident during the war, it was shocking to see how much normalcy she was able to maintain while the bombs were falling on London.
During the period covered by the diary, Mary was exposed to a veritable Who’s Who of world leaders. They included British statesmen (Anthony Eden, Clement Attlee, Neville Chamberlain); foreign dignitaries (Charles DeGaulle [smug and unfriendly], Joseph Stalin [called “Uncle Joe” behind his back], FDR [smart and friendly, but not as able as her father], and Harry Truman [a pleasant surprise]; and generals (including Ike). Mary did not just see these luminaries as they passed in the hallway. Virtually every official meeting included social functions, to which Mary was invited and during which she had an opportunity to converse with the honored guests. And if Mary is to be believed, their conversations were not limited to what was on the menu that evening.
In addition to the world leaders, Mary had opportunities to meet with a host of other celebrities. Noel Coward was a regular guest at the Churchill homes, performing for the family during his visits. Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and Alfred Lunt were also visitors. Suffice it to say that Churchill dinner parties were a little different than mine growing up.
One of the book’s revelations is how much time Winston spent away from London (and away from England) during the war. Travel was not, of course, as efficient then as it is now, and there was the added complication of needing to avoid hostile fire en route. Winston’s trips to the big wartime conferences — Quebec/Washington, Tehran, Malta, and (to a lesser extent) Potsdam took him out of town for a month or more. Winston also left town to visit liberated territories in North Africa, Normandy, Paris, and Germany. It is hard to imagine a president or prime minister today spending that much time out of the office under any circumstances and particularly during wartime — especially since the means of communication were not then what they are now.
Equally surprising was how Winston and his entourage — which included Mary, her sisters, and/or Clementine — spent time during their sojourns. Although I would have expected these trips to have been strictly business, they were definitely not all work and no play. When not in meetings, the traveling party behaved like typical tourists. They visited monuments, memorials, museums, and other historical sites. They attended plays and concerts. While I do not fault Winston and his companions for finding a little respite from their duties, I suspect that today’s media would take a dim view of such diversions.
Mary’s diary leaves no doubt that the pressures of leading the nation in wartime took a heavy toll on Winston’s health. She regularly describes him as sick, weak, and exhausted. He was frequently confined to bed by his physicians — perhaps more often than the public realized. There were at least a couple of occasions — one occurring at the Tehran conference — when there was some doubt as to whether he would survive.
After the war, Mary accompanied her father on battle field tours. Both of them were shocked by the devastation they witnessed and by how the survivors were forced to live among the ruins. Mary was particularly shaken by a visit to one of the death camps. I learned something about the camps that I never before had heard. During one of her camp visits, Mary was informed that the Nazis did not separate men and women in the barracks. Consequently, there was sexual activity in the camps, and that resulted in a not-insubstantial number of pregnancies. That was a huge problem because any woman found to be pregnant was immediately dispatched to the gas chambers. So, just when you think it could not have been more horrible, you learn that it was.
Winston was attending the post-War Potsdam conference when the Brits went to the polls in 1945. He left the conference to return to London and receive the election results. Little did he realize at the time that it would be Clement Attlee who returned to Germany. Mary reports that Winston was devastated by his party's decisive defeat, but took the rebuke with equanimity. Mary was bothered because the election revealed how ungrateful the public was for everything that her father had done. But Winston was bothered because he saw that there was still work to be done. Even while the war’s outcome was in doubt, Mary writes, Winston was agonizing about rebuilding war-torn Europe.
There is, as you would guess, a lot of repetition and a lot of folderol in the diary. Some may find such details of interest, but I was not at all enthralled by Mary’s innumerable accounts of what she was wearing to her various social functions or what she ate for dinner. But it is important to remember that Mary was merely a child when the diary begins. The diary also predictably contains a bunch of names, terms, and abbreviations that will not be familiar to the average reader. The book includes a very helpful dramatis personae and a glossary of terms, but flipping back and forth between the diary entries and those aids was a little irritating. Still and all, the diary provides a unique glimpse of an historically significant period. It is one thing to review documents and construct from those materials an understanding of what occurred. It is quite another thing to hear from someone who was in the rooms where it happened. By all means, World War II aficionados should read this book.
Richard G. Stuhan
I go back and forth on whether I like the Mary Churchill who emerges from the diary. At times she appears precocious — amazingly mature and articulate for her age. At other times, she comes across as spoiled and entitled. It seems clear that the diary was never intended as a means of recording her most intimate thoughts — ideas to which she could not give voice. Instead, the diary appears to have been written in the expectation that it would be read by others. It is peppered with French and Latin phrases and allusions to classical literature that seem designed to show the reader how cultured she was.
The diary is extraordinarily judgmental. Everyone who crossed her path was critiqued, and generally in a shallow way. Mary was obsessed with physical attractiveness and wardrobe. Even her mother — “Mummy” — was not spared these reviews. Fortunately for Clementine, however, Mary found her well dressed and elegant. That compliment is repeated multiple times in the diary and, for Mary, that was high praise. Personalities are also routinely assessed. Everyone is either gay and charming or boring, dreary, and dreadful.
One theme that clearly emerges from the diary is that Mary was boy crazy. The diary recounts flirtations with literally dozens of different guys, some much older than she and some married. Whether and to what extent these relationships were sexual is not revealed. Mary fell in and out of relationships very easily. One day, she was head over heels in love; the next day, she dismissed her beau as boring. The diary reflects one broken engagement and at least three rejected marriage proposals. Her suitors included an American, a Frenchman, and a Belgian prince. She eventually married in 1946 and had five children of her own.
Mary’s relationship with her father— “Papa” — is difficult to discern from the diary. It is clear that she was fiercely loyal to him. Mary truly believed that her father was single-handedly saving western civilization, and she was equally convinced that Winston was not properly appreciated for his efforts. She became indignant if anyone had the audacity to criticize anything he said or did. But the diary suggests that she had more respect and admiration for Winston than love. There are no recorded shows of affection between them. Mary was grateful whenever Winston made any time available for her. On one occasion, for example, she gushed about him inviting her to join him for breakfast and offering her a piece of fruit. Mary did not resent the limited time Winston made available to her. Her attitude, rather, was that Winston was too important to spare time for family matters. But when they were together, the diary reports, Winston confided in Mary about matters of state.
While Winston and Clementine appeared to enjoy a stable marriage, the rest of the family was essentially dysfunctional. All three of Mary’s siblings had failed marriages — some more than one — and numerous extra-marital relationships. Brother Randolph was almost universally disliked, including by his own siblings. Mary could not forgive him for taking positions at odds with Winston’s. Mary says in her diary that she “hates” him and sees no purpose in trying to reconcile with him. Randolph’s wife had an affair with U.S. diplomat Averell Harriman during the war (and much later married him, after which Bill Clinton appointed her ambassador to France). Sister Sarah had a dalliance with American Ambassador Gil Winant, who committed suicide when she dumped him. Older sister Diana also committed suicide after her marriage dissolved. Clearly, the Churchill household does not conjure images of the Ozzie and Harriet clan.
Despite these personal problems, all members of the family served the war effort in some capacity. Mary joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, which was the women’s branch of the British Army. In that capacity, Mary became part of an anti-aircraft battery, serving in various parts of England, Wales, and later on the continent. It at first seemed strange to me that a woman would be assigned to such a detail until I remembered from my Downton Abbey viewing that aristocratic women at the time hunted for entertainment. Mary eventually rose to the rank of captain and was recognized as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her efforts. Perhaps I am being cynical, but is it possible that her father had something to do with that honor?
Surprisingly, Mary’s wartime service did not interfere to any significant extent with her social life. She had no trouble securing leaves of absence from the ATS whenever there was something better that she wanted to do. Perhaps I am being unfair to her, but I am not convinced that the average grunt enjoyed the same privileges. The diary records her attending parties several times a week — accompanied by a host of handsome young men, staying until the middle of the night, and sleeping until noon the following morning. She regularly enjoyed drinks and dining with her circle of friends at fashionable watering holes and posh restaurants. Mary frequently attended movies, plays, and concerts, and she loved to dance. She regularly went shopping — that was one of the few experiences she shared with Mummy — and she could not thereafter return to her anti-aircraft gun without first having her hair and nails done. Although Mary’s experience was likely not typical for a London-area resident during the war, it was shocking to see how much normalcy she was able to maintain while the bombs were falling on London.
During the period covered by the diary, Mary was exposed to a veritable Who’s Who of world leaders. They included British statesmen (Anthony Eden, Clement Attlee, Neville Chamberlain); foreign dignitaries (Charles DeGaulle [smug and unfriendly], Joseph Stalin [called “Uncle Joe” behind his back], FDR [smart and friendly, but not as able as her father], and Harry Truman [a pleasant surprise]; and generals (including Ike). Mary did not just see these luminaries as they passed in the hallway. Virtually every official meeting included social functions, to which Mary was invited and during which she had an opportunity to converse with the honored guests. And if Mary is to be believed, their conversations were not limited to what was on the menu that evening.
In addition to the world leaders, Mary had opportunities to meet with a host of other celebrities. Noel Coward was a regular guest at the Churchill homes, performing for the family during his visits. Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and Alfred Lunt were also visitors. Suffice it to say that Churchill dinner parties were a little different than mine growing up.
One of the book’s revelations is how much time Winston spent away from London (and away from England) during the war. Travel was not, of course, as efficient then as it is now, and there was the added complication of needing to avoid hostile fire en route. Winston’s trips to the big wartime conferences — Quebec/Washington, Tehran, Malta, and (to a lesser extent) Potsdam took him out of town for a month or more. Winston also left town to visit liberated territories in North Africa, Normandy, Paris, and Germany. It is hard to imagine a president or prime minister today spending that much time out of the office under any circumstances and particularly during wartime — especially since the means of communication were not then what they are now.
Equally surprising was how Winston and his entourage — which included Mary, her sisters, and/or Clementine — spent time during their sojourns. Although I would have expected these trips to have been strictly business, they were definitely not all work and no play. When not in meetings, the traveling party behaved like typical tourists. They visited monuments, memorials, museums, and other historical sites. They attended plays and concerts. While I do not fault Winston and his companions for finding a little respite from their duties, I suspect that today’s media would take a dim view of such diversions.
Mary’s diary leaves no doubt that the pressures of leading the nation in wartime took a heavy toll on Winston’s health. She regularly describes him as sick, weak, and exhausted. He was frequently confined to bed by his physicians — perhaps more often than the public realized. There were at least a couple of occasions — one occurring at the Tehran conference — when there was some doubt as to whether he would survive.
After the war, Mary accompanied her father on battle field tours. Both of them were shocked by the devastation they witnessed and by how the survivors were forced to live among the ruins. Mary was particularly shaken by a visit to one of the death camps. I learned something about the camps that I never before had heard. During one of her camp visits, Mary was informed that the Nazis did not separate men and women in the barracks. Consequently, there was sexual activity in the camps, and that resulted in a not-insubstantial number of pregnancies. That was a huge problem because any woman found to be pregnant was immediately dispatched to the gas chambers. So, just when you think it could not have been more horrible, you learn that it was.
Winston was attending the post-War Potsdam conference when the Brits went to the polls in 1945. He left the conference to return to London and receive the election results. Little did he realize at the time that it would be Clement Attlee who returned to Germany. Mary reports that Winston was devastated by his party's decisive defeat, but took the rebuke with equanimity. Mary was bothered because the election revealed how ungrateful the public was for everything that her father had done. But Winston was bothered because he saw that there was still work to be done. Even while the war’s outcome was in doubt, Mary writes, Winston was agonizing about rebuilding war-torn Europe.
There is, as you would guess, a lot of repetition and a lot of folderol in the diary. Some may find such details of interest, but I was not at all enthralled by Mary’s innumerable accounts of what she was wearing to her various social functions or what she ate for dinner. But it is important to remember that Mary was merely a child when the diary begins. The diary also predictably contains a bunch of names, terms, and abbreviations that will not be familiar to the average reader. The book includes a very helpful dramatis personae and a glossary of terms, but flipping back and forth between the diary entries and those aids was a little irritating. Still and all, the diary provides a unique glimpse of an historically significant period. It is one thing to review documents and construct from those materials an understanding of what occurred. It is quite another thing to hear from someone who was in the rooms where it happened. By all means, World War II aficionados should read this book.
Richard G. Stuhan
June 8, 2022
My Interest
I collect everything on the Churchills, so this is a natural for me. Seeing it on #Netgalley, I had to have it. I will be buying the print book, but this review is based on the audio in which the editor (and reader of the text connecting sections of the diary) is Mary's elder daughter, Emma.
Winston and Clementine Churchill suffered the sort of loss all parents dread. Going away and leaving the children with a nanny only to be called home to a dying child. Their fourth child, Marigold, died, soon after her parents returned home. A year later, Mary was born. Unlike the older children, Mary was cared for by a distant relative who had trained as a Norland Nanny. Winston and Clementine were very involved children for their class and day. Winston had been so neglected by his own father that he destroyed his son Randolph by spoiling him and never correcting his bad behavior. The three (surviving) older children all had difficulties with relationships and with alcoholism. Mary, however, was married for life to one man, had five healthy children, many grandchildren (one of whom was a bridesmaid Princess Diana--a very distant relative). Winston and Clementine both gave of their time and love to all of their children, but Mary having had a very stable and well-regulated childhood, turned out the healthiest. [In this the Churchills and the Roosevelts were so much alike--disasterous marriages for the children, etc., only it was FDR's mother who spoiled them. FDR and Eleanor lost a baby son. Their 5 children had around 14 marriages between them].
The Story
When the Diary starts, Mary is about to be 18, World War II is starting and Winston is not yet Prime Minister. Mary is in the last days of school--still a fairly rare thing for a girl of her class (Clementine had gone to school though). The Churchills included their children in the luncheons and dinners they gave, so their children were very well versed in public affairs, the arts, and literature from this exposure alone. Randolph only was indulged and allowed to argue and debate with guests even if it sent his mother from the table in anger and disgust. The girls, were to make polite conversation. So Mary often had a ring-side seat to some of the greatest moments in 20th Century history and met most of the Allied war leaders including Roosevelt. (She found FDR not as brilliant as her father and found FDR Jr, very handsome but a bit tedious; She admired Eleanor).
Her diary has the usual confidences about young men, about what she sees as her personal failings and, funnily enough some Bridget Jones-ish moments about her weight! She confides her thoughts on her siblings (she finds she can no longer lover or like her brother), her sister-in-law Pamela (whom she often calls "Spam) [and who would always be charitably described in books and memoirs as a "courtesan"] and on finding her eldest sister, Diana, a bit difficult (she was 13 years older). It is her sister Her cousin, Clarissa (later to be the 2nd Mrs. Anthony Eden--click for my post on her), who ran with a very artsy crowd, worked at Vogue and skipped any military service, she found hard going (as did I when I read her memoir). Her sister Sarah, the actress, and her mother, Clementine, she mostly got on well with and enjoyed spending time with each of them She and Sarah shared the duties of ADC to her father on his long trips to the wartime conferences (a role the Winston must surely have wished Randolph to have been capable of undertaking). But, it is her father whom she openly idolizes, adores, cherishes. He is almost a religion to her. She is so grateful (which is a huge sign of maturity I think) when he takes time out to speak to her. But, Mary, too falls afoul of "Papa" when she criticizes the sainted son, Randolph. She bitterly and quite rightly resents this.
One fun note--her thoughts on the movie Mrs. Miniver were like mine. It was a lovely film, but the family didn't seem very British or middle class! I've always thought Walter Pidgeon was too "American"--Leslie Howard would have been a better choice to me.
My Thoughts
Mary shows herself to be a a little (and understandably) priggish, very upper-class, and yet also very sincere. Her religious faith, her sense of duty, and her devotion to family and country are very typical of her time. She would go on to raise a Member of Parliament who became a Cabinet Minister (oldest son, Nicholas) and was wife of an MP & Cabinet Minister who also severed as the UK's Ambassador to France and as the man who handed Rhodesia over to become Mugabe's Zimbabwe (where her daughter had an affair with Andrew Parker-Bowles). Her home "training" stood her in good stead to be the wife of a successful politician--which it did, especially when Churchill suffered his stroke after the war--but that's in a different book!
I wasn't sure what I would be listening to when I started this book, but in the end I found it to be much, much more interesting than I had imagined. It's too bad that Mary didn't go on to try for Parliament. I think she'd have given Mrs. Thatcher some serious competition even without a University degree.
I collect everything on the Churchills, so this is a natural for me. Seeing it on #Netgalley, I had to have it. I will be buying the print book, but this review is based on the audio in which the editor (and reader of the text connecting sections of the diary) is Mary's elder daughter, Emma.
Winston and Clementine Churchill suffered the sort of loss all parents dread. Going away and leaving the children with a nanny only to be called home to a dying child. Their fourth child, Marigold, died, soon after her parents returned home. A year later, Mary was born. Unlike the older children, Mary was cared for by a distant relative who had trained as a Norland Nanny. Winston and Clementine were very involved children for their class and day. Winston had been so neglected by his own father that he destroyed his son Randolph by spoiling him and never correcting his bad behavior. The three (surviving) older children all had difficulties with relationships and with alcoholism. Mary, however, was married for life to one man, had five healthy children, many grandchildren (one of whom was a bridesmaid Princess Diana--a very distant relative). Winston and Clementine both gave of their time and love to all of their children, but Mary having had a very stable and well-regulated childhood, turned out the healthiest. [In this the Churchills and the Roosevelts were so much alike--disasterous marriages for the children, etc., only it was FDR's mother who spoiled them. FDR and Eleanor lost a baby son. Their 5 children had around 14 marriages between them].
The Story
When the Diary starts, Mary is about to be 18, World War II is starting and Winston is not yet Prime Minister. Mary is in the last days of school--still a fairly rare thing for a girl of her class (Clementine had gone to school though). The Churchills included their children in the luncheons and dinners they gave, so their children were very well versed in public affairs, the arts, and literature from this exposure alone. Randolph only was indulged and allowed to argue and debate with guests even if it sent his mother from the table in anger and disgust. The girls, were to make polite conversation. So Mary often had a ring-side seat to some of the greatest moments in 20th Century history and met most of the Allied war leaders including Roosevelt. (She found FDR not as brilliant as her father and found FDR Jr, very handsome but a bit tedious; She admired Eleanor).
Her diary has the usual confidences about young men, about what she sees as her personal failings and, funnily enough some Bridget Jones-ish moments about her weight! She confides her thoughts on her siblings (she finds she can no longer lover or like her brother), her sister-in-law Pamela (whom she often calls "Spam) [and who would always be charitably described in books and memoirs as a "courtesan"] and on finding her eldest sister, Diana, a bit difficult (she was 13 years older). It is her sister Her cousin, Clarissa (later to be the 2nd Mrs. Anthony Eden--click for my post on her), who ran with a very artsy crowd, worked at Vogue and skipped any military service, she found hard going (as did I when I read her memoir). Her sister Sarah, the actress, and her mother, Clementine, she mostly got on well with and enjoyed spending time with each of them She and Sarah shared the duties of ADC to her father on his long trips to the wartime conferences (a role the Winston must surely have wished Randolph to have been capable of undertaking). But, it is her father whom she openly idolizes, adores, cherishes. He is almost a religion to her. She is so grateful (which is a huge sign of maturity I think) when he takes time out to speak to her. But, Mary, too falls afoul of "Papa" when she criticizes the sainted son, Randolph. She bitterly and quite rightly resents this.
One fun note--her thoughts on the movie Mrs. Miniver were like mine. It was a lovely film, but the family didn't seem very British or middle class! I've always thought Walter Pidgeon was too "American"--Leslie Howard would have been a better choice to me.
My Thoughts
Mary shows herself to be a a little (and understandably) priggish, very upper-class, and yet also very sincere. Her religious faith, her sense of duty, and her devotion to family and country are very typical of her time. She would go on to raise a Member of Parliament who became a Cabinet Minister (oldest son, Nicholas) and was wife of an MP & Cabinet Minister who also severed as the UK's Ambassador to France and as the man who handed Rhodesia over to become Mugabe's Zimbabwe (where her daughter had an affair with Andrew Parker-Bowles). Her home "training" stood her in good stead to be the wife of a successful politician--which it did, especially when Churchill suffered his stroke after the war--but that's in a different book!
I wasn't sure what I would be listening to when I started this book, but in the end I found it to be much, much more interesting than I had imagined. It's too bad that Mary didn't go on to try for Parliament. I think she'd have given Mrs. Thatcher some serious competition even without a University degree.
September 5, 2022
I loved this book! I listened to it via the Libby app from my local library.
It is always good to be reminded that life wasn’t better in previous generations, and that others in the past have gone through great hardships.
I’ve seen reviews that say hers was a petted, spoiled life. That she was all wrapped up in herself. And it wasn’t really worth reading about her dresses and whatnot. But it is those details that make it real. Sure, her life was different from the other women in her ATS group, but of course it would be. She was, after all, the daughter of the prime minister. We need everyone’s perspective.
I liked the way the book was organized as well.
It is always good to be reminded that life wasn’t better in previous generations, and that others in the past have gone through great hardships.
I’ve seen reviews that say hers was a petted, spoiled life. That she was all wrapped up in herself. And it wasn’t really worth reading about her dresses and whatnot. But it is those details that make it real. Sure, her life was different from the other women in her ATS group, but of course it would be. She was, after all, the daughter of the prime minister. We need everyone’s perspective.
I liked the way the book was organized as well.
November 24, 2023
This was a fascinating read, being that it is diary entries recounting what Mary Churchill was up to in the war years. A very different format from traditional books, so that was a bit of a challenge. It doesn't flow as a regular book does, but is very interesting nonetheless. Would recommend for those interested in Churchill, and England in WWII. Mary's pov on things as a young woman witnessing history are interesting, and at times not what one would expect.
August 2, 2022
Fascinating perspective from Churchill's youngest child who documents her side of life during his prime ministership.
November 13, 2024
Some interesting inside perspectives of living in wartime London, but hers was certainly not a typical life. Lots of dancing, movies, shopping, shopping, shopping and opulent food and parties while common folk were scrounging and living on rations. But her life was that of a Churchill and she describes it well. Regardless of who you were, WWII was no piece of cake!
July 9, 2022
Good addition to my WW2 reading. Lots of detail not found anywhere else.
November 3, 2023
This extraordinary book is a gift to the reader. It highlights a lost art; the art of letter writing, journal writing and of diary entries that is today dispersed in the ether in bits and pieces, that do not fully represent the emotion or intent of the author that is writing such a personal record of the memorable moments of life, has disappeared. The internet and social media concentrate on clickbait, rather than worthy information representing the record of lives well lived. Mary Churchill's diary entries remind us of the important personal histories of the past, the emotional turmoil and destructive energy of those times, as well as the other side of life, the side concentrating on joy, family, values and devotion to one's country.
Mary Churchill’s fanciful real life contrasts completely with her rigorous volunteer war efforts, until her true identity is revealed. When she is exposed, her position becomes more political and diplomatic. Her joy and trepidation when she meets prospective suitors, reacts to the political demands of her father’s position and her family life, yearns to live a regular life or comes of age in a time of terrible travail, is exquisitely told through her pen strokes. She manages to maintain her aristocratic life throughout the war years, never truly suffering the deprivation of rationing as most did, if her diary represents her experiences accurately. Even when she suffers indignities, she is refreshed when she returns to her home where she feels accepted and loved by her parents. Her emotions are raw, at times, as she writes about the dilemmas that she faces as she comes of age. Her romantic dreams are the same of any young girl who is maturing in times of war or peace.
As the book takes you through the rise of Hitler, to the war’s end, and a bit beyond, the history expressed in Mary’s diary becomes especially pertinent today. England's betrayal of Churchill, removing him from office after he had accomplished so much for them, left a scar on Mary, Winston, and the family. With the recent political atmosphere in America, prominent on everyone's mind, coupled with the Hamas attack on Israel and Judaism, once again, the book is even more pertinent and relevant.
Mary's confusion and feelings of contradiction, as she views the human suffering during the Holocaust and afterwards, as she tours war torn cities of Germany and Europe, is representative today in the minds and behaviors of many who are not sure where their loyalty lies. Often, the lines between right and wrong, good and evil, are blurred, by a lack of maturity, education and the ability to think critically. However, barbarism still exists, we have discovered, although we have insisted “never again”. As Mary examines her feelings and beliefs, so must the reader.
Mary is filled with a love of her country and her desire to be a credit to her father, never bringing shame to him or her family. She is on the world stage and mixes with the rich and famous, comfortably, most times. She grows into the role of soldier, companion and assistant, to her father and mother and her country, even though she is a very young girl when she begins. She is brave and a credit to her country, her family, and to women. Although she is often romantically confused, she has a genuine moral compass and an ability to analyze the flaws of her own judgment. Her romantic interludes are those of any young girl and are a pleasure to witness, as she matures.
The inclusion of bits and pieces of Winston Churchill’s speeches in the audio, is a gift to the listener, and I wish there had been more of those moments presented. He was a wonderful orator and leader, and his was a voice I used to listen to often, in the library at my college. He is mesmerizing and captivating in his speeches. His daughter is likewise, in her diary.
The narrators are perfect for their roles in this memoir. Mary’s charm and "joie de vivre", as well as her confusion and immaturity, deep nationalism and devotion to her father and her family life, as she grows more able to deal with her station in life, is evident in every written word. Beginning in her mid-teens, the diary exposes her anguish and utter pleasure, as she grows wiser and older, mostly through the years of 1939-1946, the time of her father's leadership of Great Britain, and the time of the terrible turmoil and tragedy of WWII.
Mary Churchill’s fanciful real life contrasts completely with her rigorous volunteer war efforts, until her true identity is revealed. When she is exposed, her position becomes more political and diplomatic. Her joy and trepidation when she meets prospective suitors, reacts to the political demands of her father’s position and her family life, yearns to live a regular life or comes of age in a time of terrible travail, is exquisitely told through her pen strokes. She manages to maintain her aristocratic life throughout the war years, never truly suffering the deprivation of rationing as most did, if her diary represents her experiences accurately. Even when she suffers indignities, she is refreshed when she returns to her home where she feels accepted and loved by her parents. Her emotions are raw, at times, as she writes about the dilemmas that she faces as she comes of age. Her romantic dreams are the same of any young girl who is maturing in times of war or peace.
As the book takes you through the rise of Hitler, to the war’s end, and a bit beyond, the history expressed in Mary’s diary becomes especially pertinent today. England's betrayal of Churchill, removing him from office after he had accomplished so much for them, left a scar on Mary, Winston, and the family. With the recent political atmosphere in America, prominent on everyone's mind, coupled with the Hamas attack on Israel and Judaism, once again, the book is even more pertinent and relevant.
Mary's confusion and feelings of contradiction, as she views the human suffering during the Holocaust and afterwards, as she tours war torn cities of Germany and Europe, is representative today in the minds and behaviors of many who are not sure where their loyalty lies. Often, the lines between right and wrong, good and evil, are blurred, by a lack of maturity, education and the ability to think critically. However, barbarism still exists, we have discovered, although we have insisted “never again”. As Mary examines her feelings and beliefs, so must the reader.
Mary is filled with a love of her country and her desire to be a credit to her father, never bringing shame to him or her family. She is on the world stage and mixes with the rich and famous, comfortably, most times. She grows into the role of soldier, companion and assistant, to her father and mother and her country, even though she is a very young girl when she begins. She is brave and a credit to her country, her family, and to women. Although she is often romantically confused, she has a genuine moral compass and an ability to analyze the flaws of her own judgment. Her romantic interludes are those of any young girl and are a pleasure to witness, as she matures.
The inclusion of bits and pieces of Winston Churchill’s speeches in the audio, is a gift to the listener, and I wish there had been more of those moments presented. He was a wonderful orator and leader, and his was a voice I used to listen to often, in the library at my college. He is mesmerizing and captivating in his speeches. His daughter is likewise, in her diary.
The narrators are perfect for their roles in this memoir. Mary’s charm and "joie de vivre", as well as her confusion and immaturity, deep nationalism and devotion to her father and her family life, as she grows more able to deal with her station in life, is evident in every written word. Beginning in her mid-teens, the diary exposes her anguish and utter pleasure, as she grows wiser and older, mostly through the years of 1939-1946, the time of her father's leadership of Great Britain, and the time of the terrible turmoil and tragedy of WWII.
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November 15, 2022One of my most anticipated books of the year was Mary Churchill's War: The Wartime Diaries of Churchill's Youngest Daughter, edited by Mary’s own daughter, Emma Soames. It is an insightful look at what it was like to come of age during WWII, especially as the daughter of Winston Churchill.
Mary is almost 17 when the war begins, and as the book progresses, you see her mature into a caring young woman shaped by love and loss. She had a special relationship with her father, so much so that he asked her to accompany him on his wartime trip to Canada and the US via the ship, the Queen Mary. Her descriptions of the trip and places I've been (Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg, the Queen Mary itself) were so fun to read.
Mary didn’t just sit around during the war - she actively participated in the defense of Britain as an “ack-ack” girl with the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). The diary entries talk of her sheer exhaustion from the constant work and how her society friends couldn’t believe her living conditions. She was also part of the British forces who entered the Belsen concentration camp and spent time in the decimated regions of Europe, helping the survivors.
I especially enjoyed the personal entries about her family - her dear Papa and Mummy, her wayward older brother, her active sisters, and her many friends and potential loves. It almost reads like a YA book with all of the romantic angst and descriptions of the parties and fashion!
I highly recommend it for anyone (especially teens!) interested in the British homefront during WWII or any fans of Churchill who want to see what he was like with his family. Less of a bulldog, more of a teddy bear!
I loved learning more about this strong and brave young woman. I think the book is summed up best by a quote from Mary - “That I may all my life be courageous.”
Mary is almost 17 when the war begins, and as the book progresses, you see her mature into a caring young woman shaped by love and loss. She had a special relationship with her father, so much so that he asked her to accompany him on his wartime trip to Canada and the US via the ship, the Queen Mary. Her descriptions of the trip and places I've been (Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg, the Queen Mary itself) were so fun to read.
Mary didn’t just sit around during the war - she actively participated in the defense of Britain as an “ack-ack” girl with the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). The diary entries talk of her sheer exhaustion from the constant work and how her society friends couldn’t believe her living conditions. She was also part of the British forces who entered the Belsen concentration camp and spent time in the decimated regions of Europe, helping the survivors.
I especially enjoyed the personal entries about her family - her dear Papa and Mummy, her wayward older brother, her active sisters, and her many friends and potential loves. It almost reads like a YA book with all of the romantic angst and descriptions of the parties and fashion!
I highly recommend it for anyone (especially teens!) interested in the British homefront during WWII or any fans of Churchill who want to see what he was like with his family. Less of a bulldog, more of a teddy bear!
I loved learning more about this strong and brave young woman. I think the book is summed up best by a quote from Mary - “That I may all my life be courageous.”
December 13, 2022
Mary Churchill Soames, who was Winston's youngest child, lived with her father and mother during the war and also volunteered for active duty working in a battalion of anti-aircraft batteries in the women's branch of the British army.
She is 19 when we first read her diary, in 1939, and the book ends in 1945 after the war. It is full of notes a young girl might write: dresses and parties, worries and young men. But also filled with the meetings, lunches, dinners with many famous people who were in the circle of her father as prime minister. Her love for her parents shines brightly as does her c0ncern about the war. Mary goes with her parents to North America in 1943 when they meet with President Roosevelt.She is also with him in Potsdam after the was when they meet with the Soviet leader, Stalin. We see all these events as they are happening through the eyes of a charming and insightful young woman.
Most helpful are the introductions done for each year by Mary's daughter, Emma Soames, who edited this book. it explains what is going on in a broader context.
She is 19 when we first read her diary, in 1939, and the book ends in 1945 after the war. It is full of notes a young girl might write: dresses and parties, worries and young men. But also filled with the meetings, lunches, dinners with many famous people who were in the circle of her father as prime minister. Her love for her parents shines brightly as does her c0ncern about the war. Mary goes with her parents to North America in 1943 when they meet with President Roosevelt.She is also with him in Potsdam after the was when they meet with the Soviet leader, Stalin. We see all these events as they are happening through the eyes of a charming and insightful young woman.
Most helpful are the introductions done for each year by Mary's daughter, Emma Soames, who edited this book. it explains what is going on in a broader context.
October 13, 2025
An interesting read through the edited diary entries of March Churchill - daughter of Winston. There were many nuggets in here that made me smile or pause, and reading through the emotions of a young woman during the war years was worth the read.
With that said, many of the entries were short on detail and while she came across almost every famous Western leader you can think of, little time was spent on them. This is not a criticism - I mean these are diary entries she was not writing a history - but as a reader and rater of books here in 2025, I wish there was more. Some of her letters quoted at length, especially in the later years, were excellent in their writing and detail. I wish more of that had been included.
With that said, many of the entries were short on detail and while she came across almost every famous Western leader you can think of, little time was spent on them. This is not a criticism - I mean these are diary entries she was not writing a history - but as a reader and rater of books here in 2025, I wish there was more. Some of her letters quoted at length, especially in the later years, were excellent in their writing and detail. I wish more of that had been included.
August 25, 2022
Erik Larsen used Mary’s diaries in his book The Splendid and the Vile, so some of the actual diary begins to seem repetitive, but I still enjoyed it. What a life! Imagine being just out of high school and routinely sitting down to lunch or dinner with your parents and finding world leaders, top diplomats or military leaders at the table. This was Mary’s world. She had a front row seat to many of the most important events of the time, traveling several times with her father to conferences with Allied leaders around the world. Her observations about FDR were amusing as she found him entertaining in a long-winded sort of way.
October 31, 2023
i appreciated the insight and thoughts of an (18-21 year old over the duration of the book). I am amazed at her commitment to supporting her country and her family. I liked how she wanted to participate anonymously in supporting her country and was not drawn to bringing attention to herself. She struggled with making decisions that directed her life, and I appreciated reading the journey. I appreciated her thoughts related to her role as a dtr vs. her incompetent brother. It was interesting.
July 14, 2025
Having just visited Winston Churchill’s museum 2 weeks ago in London I was excited to read more about his personal life. Seeing the wartime through the eyes of a young woman leaving childhood and entering into womanhood was a unique vantage point. No surprise much of her dairy is the musings of a girl interested in fashion, social life and boys. Proof that even in the darkest of times youth can still see the hope and fantasy of what life can be. While naive there is something to envy when one’s mind has not been jaded by years yet.
January 15, 2024
I found this to be both interesting and charming, although I doubt the diary of a young girl/woman will be of interest to many, even one as educated and involved in world events as Mary Churchill. Still, as an admirer of Churchill, and as a daughter who hero worshipped my own father, I could easily relate to most everything written. A fascinating glimpse into the home life of a truly extraordinary family.
August 18, 2022
Always interesting when you learn of one's experiences in their own words. When the author is a child of one of the designers of the Allies win in WWII it becomes even more intriguing. Mary Churchill was a fly on the wall for many things concerning the war and her father's actions in it and this comes through in these pages. Well worth the read.
October 17, 2022
Definitely worth reading; it does help to have previous knowledge of Winston and the war. She certainly lived a privileged , insular life. Could not help contrasting this with another war diary, that of Anne Frank. However, this diary definitely added to my understanding of wartime Britain. No doubt that her father helped save the world.
May 13, 2024
This was a lovely, personal look at the war years. The section introductions are read by Mary’s daughter and the diaries read by another woman (excellent). Mary’s life is changed by the war but she is still a teen, worrying about teen things, dealing with family relationships, friends, clothes, dancing, responsibilities. Oh wow! as Mary likes to say.
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May 26, 2025I loved Eric Larson’s book on the Churchill and he writes an introduction to this book telling how much it added to his research—making the Churchill family human. But I think this diary is more than I want to read or know. I am not a researcher and Larson’s book was enough for me. Also the biography of Pamela Churchill who of course is important in this book.
September 27, 2025
A very interesting read, the story of a young girl turning into a woman in the midst of wartime. Her adoration of her famous father was clearly evident and touching. The choice of narrator of this audio was brilliant. You felt like you were listening to Mary reading her own diary.
November 21, 2022
I’m grateful that she shared her time with her dad. I had the opportunity to meet her 20 years ago & have enormous respect for Lady Mary Soames.
May 28, 2023
Great book.
November 9, 2024
Not terribly profound but honest and interesting.
February 9, 2025
A young woman's diary of the war years, filled with admiration for her father and both domestic and military notations. Compelling look inside the Churchill family.
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