Michael Willoughby, 11th Baron Middleton
Encyclopedia
Colonel Michael Guy Percival Willoughby, 11th Baron Middleton, KG
, MC
, TD
, ED
(21 October 1887–16 November 1970) was a British
peer
and soldier.
Willoughby was the second son of Godfrey Willoughby, 10th Baron Middleton and was educated at Wellington College
and the Royal Military College
. On graduating in 1907, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in a Territorial Force
battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers). He
transferred to the 17th Lancers
later the same year and in 1910 to the 10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers (Hodson's Horse)
of the Indian Army
. He was stationed in India
during World War I
and in 1917 was awarded the Military Cross
. He was promoted Captain
in 1915 and Major
in 1918 and resigned his commission in 1923. Willoughby's elder brother had been killed at the Battle of Jutland
in 1916 and so on the death of his father in 1924, Willoughby inherited the barony.
Lord Middleton rose through the ranks and became associated with Territorial regiments of the East Riding of Yorkshire
. He first joined the Green Howards as a Lieutenant-Colonel and was promoted Colonel
in 1928. In 1936, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire
and commanded the 5th and 30th Battalions of the East Yorkshire Regiment
during World War II
. From 1931, he was President of University College Hull
(later University of Hull) until 1970 and its first Chancellor from 1954-70.
On 28 April 1920, Lord Middleton married Angela Florence Alfreda Hall (a daughter of Charles Hall, of Eddlethorpe) and the couple had four children;
In 1957, he was appointed a Knight of the Garter
by the Queen. On his death in 1970, his title passed to his eldest son.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, MC
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....
, TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
, ED
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
(21 October 1887–16 November 1970) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and soldier.
Willoughby was the second son of Godfrey Willoughby, 10th Baron Middleton and was educated at Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
and the Royal Military College
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. On graduating in 1907, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in a Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers). He
transferred to the 17th Lancers
17th Lancers
The 17th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War...
later the same year and in 1910 to the 10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers (Hodson's Horse)
Hodson's Horse
Hodson's Horse is a cavalry regiment which originated as part of the British Indian Army. It was raised by Brevet Major William Stephen Raikes Hodson during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and exists today as the 4th Horse Regiment in the Indian Army...
of the Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
. He was stationed in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and in 1917 was awarded 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....
. He was promoted Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in 1915 and Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1918 and resigned his commission in 1923. Willoughby's elder brother had been killed at the Battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
in 1916 and so on the death of his father in 1924, Willoughby inherited the barony.
Lord Middleton rose through the ranks and became associated with Territorial regiments of the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
. He first joined the Green Howards as a Lieutenant-Colonel and was promoted Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in 1928. In 1936, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire
Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant for the East Riding of Yorkshire. The office was established after the English Restoration in 1660, when a Lord Lieutenant was appointed for each Riding of Yorkshire. Since 1721, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of the...
and commanded the 5th and 30th Battalions of the East Yorkshire Regiment
East Yorkshire Regiment
The East Yorkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1685 as Sir William Clifton's Regiment of Foot. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the West Yorkshire Regiment , becoming The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of...
during 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...
. From 1931, he was President of University College Hull
University of Hull
The University of Hull, known informally as Hull University, is an English university, founded in 1927, located in Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
(later University of Hull) until 1970 and its first Chancellor from 1954-70.
On 28 April 1920, Lord Middleton married Angela Florence Alfreda Hall (a daughter of Charles Hall, of Eddlethorpe) and the couple had four children;
- Digby Michael Godfrey John (b. 1 May 1921); holder of the military cross
- Angela Hermione Ida (b. 5 May 1924)
- Jean Elizabeth Mary (26 January 1928 – 11 November 2008), married Sir Fergus Matheson, 7th Baronet and had issue
- Brigadier Henry Ernest Christopher (b. 12 June 1932)
In 1957, he was appointed a Knight of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
by the Queen. On his death in 1970, his title passed to his eldest son.