Sophie Moss

Sophie Tarnowska MossSophie Moss (born Zofia Roza Maria Jadwiga Elzbieta Katarzyna Aniela Tarnowska; 16 March 1917 – 22 November 2009) was a Polish noblewoman and World War II organiser. At the request of Władysław Sikorski, Poland's wartime leader, she founded the Cairo branch of the Polish Red Cross.

Early life

Moss was born on 16 March 1917 in Rudnik nad Sanem.

Her father was a politician and a writer named Hieronim. Her grandfather was Stanisław Tarnowski, who was a professor and rector at Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Moss was also a possible direct descendant of Catherine the Great and her family held some of the highest offices in Poland. with a group of British SOE officers including: W. Stanley Moss Xan Fielding Arnold Breene Arthur Reade Patrick Leigh Fermor Billy McLean David Smiley It became a centre for entertaining diplomats, officers, writers, lecturers, war correspondents, and local party-goers, hosted by Tarnowska, in the guise of "Princess Dnieper-Petrovsk" with: McLean as "Sir Eustace Rapier" Smiley as "the Marquis of Whipstock" Winn as "the Hon. Rupert Sabretache" Fielding as "Lord Hughe Devildrive" Breene as "Lord Pintpot" Leigh Fermor as "Lord Rakehell" Moss as "Mr Jack Jargon" He became a best-selling author in the 1950s.

They had three children, Christine Isabelle Mercedes, named after their mutual friend and former SOE agent Krystyna Skarbek (Christine Granville), Sebastian (who died in infancy), and Gabriella Zofia. Initially living in London, they moved to Riverstown House, County Cork in Ireland. They later returned to London, Putney, but separated in 1957. Moss died in 1965 in Kingston, Jamaica. The siblings paid their own expenses and were allowed to revisit Rudnik.

After the fall of the Polish People's Republic, Tarnowska's nephew was able to buy back Rudnik, dilapidated and then gradually restored. She and her brother were later able to host several family gatherings on the estate in Poland.

Later years For much of the latter part of her life, she lived in London and spent her summer months in Ireland.

Publications Schulz, Bruno, transl. by W. Stanley Moss and Zofia Tarnowska Moss. "My father joins the fire brigade".