VE Day #1: Michael Guy Percival Willoughby, 11th Lord Middleton

2025 is the 80th anniversary of VE Day and to mark this we are posting a series about three people connected to Middleton Hall who served in the Second World War. The first of these is about Michael Guy Percival Willoughby, 11th Lord Middleton.

Michael was born on 21st October 1887 and was the second son of Godfrey Willoughby, 10th Lord Middleton, and Ida Ross. He married Angela Hall on 28th April 1920. Following his father’s death on 11th November 1924, and because his elder brother had died in the First World War, Michael inherited Middleton. Michael is also the Lord Middleton who had to sell the Middleton Estate in 1924 in order to pay for death duties.

Portrait of Michael Guy Percival Willoughby, 11th Lord Middleton. Courtesy of Lord Middleton,

His military career began before the First World War. At the outbreak of the First World War, he was stationed in India as a lieutenant in the 10th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Lancers (Hodson’s Horse). In March 1915, he was sent to Mesopotamia as part of the 16th Cavalry and received the Military Cross for his service there. In August 1916, he returned to India to take over the 10th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Lancers’ depot at Multan. He was appointed as major on 9th October 1922 and resigned his commission on 1st November 1923. He then joined the 5th Battalion Green Howards (Territorial Army) and was promoted to colonel in 1928.

In 1931, Lord Middleton wrote and published a book about his horse called “Raggie, the War Horse”. He wrote the story from Raggie’s perspective and this book is described as the original war horse story.

"Ragtime", the war horse of the 11th Lord Middleton. Courtesy of Lord Middleton.

During the Second World War, Lord Middleton commanded the 5th and 30th Battalions of the East Yorkshire Regiment. On 3rd May 1939 the Hull Daily Mail reported that Lord Middleton had been named as the C.O. of the new 5th Battalion. Recruitment had begun and already numbered over 100. The 5th was formed as a 2nd Line Territorial Army duplicate of the 4th Battalion and was soon sent to fight in France alongside the 69th Infantry Brigade in the 23rd (Northumbrian) Division. The 5th were amongst those evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940. From 1941, the 5th served with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in the campaigns in the Western Desert, Tunisia and Sicily. In 1944, they were part of the first wave of landings on Gold Beach on D Day and they continued fighting in Normandy afterwards.

Although Lord Middleton had begun the War with the 5th, he did not stay with them. Between 1940 and 1942, he was the commander of the new 6th (Home Defence) Battalion. This Battalion was established only for the duration of the hostilities and was renamed as the 30th Battalion in December 1941 and disbanded in September 1943.

Newspaper reports stated that in late 1942 Lord Middleton was sent abroad and was still abroad in the December two years later. During this time, he served in Persia, Egypt, Sicily and Italy in various administrative roles including as part of the Military Government and Allied Control Commission. Another newspaper report, written by someone in the 5th Battalion, recorded that they were visited by Lord Middleton when they were in Persia and that they were very glad to see him and receive the encouraging messages and greetings that he brought from Hull and the Ridings. Lord Middleton then went to the South of France and served with the Civil Affairs Unit, 7th Army.

Michael, 11th Lord Middleton, died on 16th November 1970.

Further Reading: "Biography of Michael Guy Percival Willoughby, 11th Baron Middleton (1887-1970)", University of Nottingham, https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/collectionsindepth/family/middleton/biographies/biographyofmichaelguypercivalwilloughby,11thbaronmiddleton(1887-1970).aspx

"Lord Middleton Named as C.O. of New Hull Territorial Unit", Hull Daily Mail, 3 May 1939.

"Leaving For Middle East: Hull Farewell To Lord Middleton", Hull Daily Mail, 9 September 1942.

"With the East Yorks in the Middle East", Hull Daily Mail, 25 August 1943.

Martin Moore, "Civil Affairs Officers Already At Work", The Scotsman, 21 August 1944.

"Hull Lord Lieutenant Back From Overseas", Hull Daily Mail, 5 December 1944.

"A former Laird of Applecross", Rossshire Journal, 27 November 1970.

Michael G. P. Willoughby, 11th Lord Middleton,"Raggie" The War Horse, 1931. https://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/6000003.pdf

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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