The Honourable Claude Henry Comaraich Willoughby was born at Applecross in Scotland on 7 Jul 1862. He was the 12th child, out of 13, of Henry Willoughby 8th Baron Middleton of Middleton and the Hon Julia Louisa Bosville. Lord Middleton had inherited the title from his cousin, the 7th Baron Middleton, in 1856 and took over the family seat at Wollaton Park, Notts. But Henry preferred the Willoughby family home at Birdsall House in Yorkshire.
Hon Claude entered the 9th Lancers as a lieutenant on 12 Nov 1884, captain 4 Dec 1889, major 9 Jan 1901, and appointed commanding officer on 15 Mar 1904 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He served throughout the Boer War and was mentioned in despatches. He relinquished command of the 9th Lancers on 15 Mar 1908 and was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO). He held the post of Groom-in-Waiting to King George V, and from 1916 he was Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park. He died on 22 September 1932 in Ryedale District, North Yorks, and was buried in St Mary's Churchyard, Birdsall. Ryedale District.
Lieutenant-Colonel Willoughby was married on 24 Oct 1904 to Sybil Louise Murray. They had a son Henry in March 1908 who died after two weeks, then two daughters, Mary 1910 - 2003 and Joan 1913 - 1989. The photo shows him as a captain in South Africa in December 1899.
