In the course of my research, I came across this picture of the 9th Duke of Devonshire (1868-1938) #2452 with his 17 grandchildren taken around 1930. He succeeded to the title in 1906 and was Governor General of Canada, 1916 to 1921 and Secretary of State for the Colonies 1922 to 1924. His full name was Victor Christian William Cavendish KG PC GCMG GCVO TD and he was succeeded by his son Edward William Spencer Cavendish (1895-1950)#9501.
Sadly the 9th Duke suffered a stroke in 1925 which permanently affected his brain. He changed from being the most easy-going and good-humoured man to an irritable old gentleman, but he loved babies and little children as can be seen in our photograph which comes from a family album. He is seen holding Sarah Macmillan (1930-1970) daughter of HaroldMacmillan (1894-1986) #3735 who later became 1st Earl of Stockton.
Other grandchildren from left to right are: Peter Baillie (1927-2017) a major in the Life Guards; Anne Cavendish who later became Lady Anne Tree (1927-2010) Philanthropist and prison rights activist; John Cobbold (1927-1983) #575 brewer and chairman of Ipswich Town Football Club; Elizabeth Cavendish (1926-2018) Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret 1951 to 2002; Catherine Macmillan (1926-1991), Boroness Amery of Lustleigh; Judith Baillie (born 1925) who served in the ATS 1944-1947 and was granted the rank of a Baron’s daughter; John Stuart, about whom we know nothing; Michael Bailee (1924-2012), 3rd Baron Burton; David Stuart, probably a brother of John, about whom we also know nothing: Carol Macmillan (1923-2016) who as Carol Faber disliked politics and worked for the National Blind Children’s Society; Jean Cobbold (1921-2001) #573 who married Roger Paul a director of R & W Paul, Millers; Pamela Cobbold (1920-1994) #570 who married Maj. Gen. Hope-Johnstone (1914-1993) #571 and who was the mother of Philip Hope-Cobbold (1943-2020) #577 of Glemham Hall; Maurice Macmillan (1921-1984), son of Harold Macmillan; Andrew Cavendish (1920-2004) #9503 11th Duke of Devonshire; Arbell Mackintosh, for a while the 30th Chief of Clan Chatten until her marriage and finally Billy Cavendish (1917-1944) #9522 who was killed by a sniper in Belgium on 9th September 1944. Billy had married KathleenKennedy (1920-1948) #9523, a sister of US President John F Kennedy. She died in a plane crash in France only 4 years after her husband.
There were more grandchildren, amongst whom was Patrick Cobbold (1934-1994) #576 who served in the Scots Guards and as ADC to the Governor of the Bahamas.
