George Atkinson-Willes
| Sir George Atkinson-Willes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 July 1847 |
| Died | 25 December 1921 (aged 74) |
| Allegiance |
 |
| Service/ |
 |
| Years of service | 1861–1912 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held |
HMS Comus HMS Indefatigable HMS Agamemnon HMS Hero HMS Howe Home Fleet East Indies Station |
| Battles/wars | Somaliland Campaign |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
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.
Naval career
Educated at Leamington College and at Burney's Royal Naval Academy in Gosport,[1] Atkinson-Willes joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1861[2] and took part in the Abyssinian Expedition in 1868.[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 maneuvers, he transferred on 16 September to the HMS Empress of India, which became flag ship to the Home Squadron, the permanent sea-going nucleus of the Home Fleet.[6] The following year, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station.[1] He was at the head of a squadron of three ships which took part in the Somaliland Campaign in 1904.[7] He retired in 1912.[3]
Family
He married Alice Mort (1856–1938), daughter of Thomas Sutcliffe Mort.
References
- 1 2 3 4 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
- 1 2 3 Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904-1945
- 1 2 3 Dix Noonan Web
- ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36763). London. 9 May 1902. p. 10.
- ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36762). London. 8 May 1902.
- ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36869). London. 10 September 1902. p. 8.
- ↑ Hermes Class light cruisers built before World War I
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Charles Drury |
Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station 1903–1905 |
Succeeded by Sir Edmund Poë |