Thomas Richard Chetwynd was the eldest son of Thomas Stanley Birkin (later 2nd baronet) and his wife Margaret Diana Hopetown (née Chetwynd).
His father Thomas Stanley, the son of Thomas Isaac Birkin (created 1st baronet of Ruddington Grange 1905), lace manufacturer, and his wife Harriet (née Tebbutt), was born in Nottingham in 1857, one of a family of nine. His mother Margaret Diana Hopetown was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1871, the daughter of Captain the Hon. Henry Chetwynd RN.
His parents were married at St Peter, Eaton Square, Pimlico, London, in 1894 and had four children: Thomas Richard Chetwynd b. 1895, Henry/Harry Ralph Stanley b. 25 October 1896 bap. Ecclesall All Saints Yorkshire West Riding 26 July 1896, Margaret Ida Maud b. 1900 (reg. J/F/M) bap. Bestwood Park Emmanuel Church 25 March 1900 and Charles Archibald Cecil b. 1904.
The family was living at Foxhall Lodge, Foxhall Road, Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, in 1901. On the night of the census only Thomas Stanley and two of his three children, Harry and Margaret, were in the home together with seven domestic servants: two nurse (domestic), a cook, kitchenmaid, two housemaids and a parlourmaid. Margaret Birkin and their eldest son Thomas were staying at the Metropole Hotel, Folkestone, Kent. It is possible that her lady's maid and Thomas' governess (nursery) were accompanying them. The youngest son, Charles, was born three years later.
The family had moved to Aspley Hall, Nottingham, by 1911. All four children were in the home on the night of the census. The household included 16 staff: tutor (male), trained nurse, nurse, under-nurse, butler, cook, housemaid, two parlourmaids, three kitchenmaids, lady's maid, chauffeur and two other domestic servants.
The family was living at Park House, Mapperley, when Thomas Richard was killed in 1917 but his parents later moved to Ruddington Grange, Nottinghamshire, probably on the death of his paternal grandfather, Sir Thomas Isaac Birkin, in 1922.
Both Margaret Birkin and her daughter Margaret Ida, were volunteers with the British Red Cross Society during the war. Margaret snr. was Commandant (Nottinghamshire) from January 1915 to April 1919 and was awarded the Royal Red Cross (2nd Class) for her work. The Royal Red Cross (Second Class) ARRC [Associate Royal Red Cross) is a military decoration awarded in the UK and Commonwealth for exceptional services in military nursing. Her daughter served as a VAD from October 1917 to April 1919 during which time she worked 2,500 hours.
Margaret Ida died in Geneva on 26 June 1923 aged 22. She was buried in the family vault in Nottingham Southern Cemetery (Wilford Hill) on 7 July.
Lady Margaret Birkin died at Ruddington Grange on 24 July 1927, a month after the death of her youngest son, Charles, on 7 June in a motorcycle accident at Kirkmichael, Isle of Man. (See 'Extra information')
The second son, Henry, served in the 7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) then the Royal Artillery (second lieutenant) and later in the Royal Flying Corps/RAF (second lieutenant/lieutenant) when he served in the Middle East. He was invalided home on 28 May 1919 and resigned his commission on 30 July 1919.
Henry married Audrey Clara Lilian Latham in 1921 (div. 1927) and they had two daughters.
Henry inherited the title on his father's death in 1931 but died two years later on 22 July 1933 from blood poisoning, a result of minor burns suffered while taking part in the Tripoli Grand Prix. (See 'Extra information')