18 Facts About Algernon Willis

Algernon Willis served in the First World War and saw action at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916.

Algernon Willis served in the Second World War as Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic in which capacity he led actions against German and Japanese raiding ships.

Algernon Willis was Flag Officer commanding 3rd Battle Squadron and Second in command of the Eastern Fleet and then Flag Officer commanding Force H, which covered North African Operations, the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 and then the Allied invasion of Italy in September 1943.

Algernon Willis was first appointed to the battleship HMS Hindustan in the Channel Fleet before transferring to the battleship HMS Glory in the Mediterranean Fleet in September 1907.

Algernon Willis then transferred to the armoured cruiser HMS Good Hope in the Mediterranean Fleet in 1911 and attended the torpedo school HMS Vernon in 1914.

Algernon Willis served in the First World War initially as torpedo officer in the battleship HMS Magnificent in the Grand Fleet before returning first to the torpedo school HMS Vernon in Spring 1915 and then to the armoured cruiser HMS Donegal, now in the Atlantic Fleet, later that year.

Algernon Willis next spent a tour at the torpedo school HMS Defiance at Plymouth before transferring to the scout cruiser HMS Fearless in the Grand Fleet in which he saw action at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916.

Algernon Willis transferred to the destroyer HMS Wallace in November 1918 and saw action against the Bolsheviks in the Baltic in early 1919, for which service he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 8 March 1920.

Algernon Willis returned to HMS Vernon again in 1921 and, having been promoted to commander on 30 June 1922, attending the Royal Naval Staff College.

Algernon Willis became torpedo officer in the cruiser HMS Coventry in the Atlantic Fleet in December 1923 and then returned to the destroyer HMS Wallace as commanding officer in October 1927.

Algernon Willis served in the Second World War initially on Cunningham's staff in which capacity, after promotion to rear admiral on 5 January 1940, he was involved in planning operations against the.

Algernon Willis went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Levant in October 1943, he conducting naval operations in the Aegean Sea in support of the Dodecanese Campaign and then became Second Sea Lord in March 1944.

Algernon Willis was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 18 December 1945 and awarded the Greek Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Phoenix with Swords, First Class and the Greek War Cross, Second Class.

Algernon Willis became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet in April 1946, in which role he was faced with unrest in Mandatory Palestine but rewarded with advancement to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 12 June 1947.

Algernon Willis attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953.

Algernon Willis became Deputy Lieutenant of Southampton and Chairman of the Trustees of the Imperial War Museum.

Algernon Willis died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar on 12 April 1976.

In September 1916 Algernon Willis married Olive Christine Millar, daughter of Henry Edward Millar and sister of Violet Helen Millar : they had two daughters.