George Atkinson-Willes

Admiral Sir George Lambart Atkinson-Willes KCB (13 July 1847–25 December 1921) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station.

Sir George Atkinson-Willes
Born13 July 1847
Died25 December 1921(1921-12-25) (aged 74)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1861–1912
RankAdmiral
Commands heldHMS Comus
HMS Indefatigable
HMS Agamemnon
HMS Hero
HMS Howe
Home Fleet
East Indies Station
Battles/warsSomaliland Campaign
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Educated at Leamington College and at Burney's Royal Naval Academy in Gosport,[1] he joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1861[2] and took part in the Abyssinian Expedition in 1868 where he was second in command of the naval rocket brigade.[3]

Promoted to Captain in 1886,[2] he commanded HMS Comus, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Agamemnon, HMS Hero and then HMS Howe.[3] He was appointed commodore commanding the Training Squadron in 1895 and then commanded the Dockyard Reserve at Chatham from 1898.[1]

In 1901 he assumed the additional surname of Willes in compliance with the will of his uncle Admiral Sir George Ommanney Willes.[1] Later the same year he was promoted to rear admiral,[2] and in May 1902 he became Second-in-Command of the Home Fleet.[4] He hoisted his flag on board the pre-dreadnought battleship HMS Resolution on 7 May 1902, as his flagship during the Coronation Fleet Review for King Edward VII.[5] After the end of the manoeuvres, he transferred on 16 September to HMS Empress of India, which became flagship to the Home Squadron, the permanent sea-going nucleus of the Home Fleet.[6]

In 1903 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station.[1] He led a squadron of three ships during the Somaliland Campaign in 1904, supplying landing parties that stormed and captured the forts at Illig, his ships' guns supporting the attack.[3] In June 1905 in recognition of his service in Somaliland he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.[7]

Atkinson-Willes was promoted vice admiral in 1905 and admiral in 1908. He retired in July 1912 and died in December 1921, aged 74.[3]

References
  1. The County Families of the United Kingdom or Royal manual of the titled and untitled aristocracy of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, Volume ed.59, yr.1919
  2. Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904-1945
  3. "The capture of the forts at Illig from the Mad Mullah, 21 April 1904", Paul G Lane. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal (Volume 59, number 2) June 2020. pp 152-156.
  4. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36763). London. 9 May 1902. p. 10.
  5. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36762). London. 8 May 1902.
  6. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36869). London. 10 September 1902. p. 8.
  7. "No. 27811". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 June 1905. p. 4548.
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Charles Drury		 Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station
1903–1905		 Succeeded by
Sir Edmund Poë
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