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{{FleetRN}} '''Algernon Usborne Willis''' G.C.B., K.C.B., D.S.O., R.N. (17 May, 1889 &ndash; 12 April, 1976) served in the [[Royal Navy]]. ==Life & Career== Willis was born in Hampstead. He passed first class in torpedoes in September, 1909 with 191/200 marks. He was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 November, 1909.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> On 15 July, 1913, he was appointed to {{UK-1Leander}} for {{TBD}}s, having just qualified as Lieutenant (T) on 11 July.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> ==Great War== On 12 April, 1915, Willis was appointed to the {{UK-Donegal|f=t}} as torpedo officer. He remained in her until 29 October when he moved to {{UK-Defiance}}. On 10 March, 1916 he went to {{UK-Vernon}} for one month. On 5 April, 1916, Willis was appointed to the {{UK-Fearless|f=t}}, additional, for torpedo work with the {{UK-DF|1}}. It was in this role that he fought at the [[Battle of Jutland]], sadly destined to play little part, as ''Fearless'' was unable to keep up with her destroyers. Willis quit the cruiser on 22 June, to return to ''Vernon'' until September, 1918.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> During this extended interlude, Willis was married to Olive Christine Millar on 7 September, 1916 at Christ Church, Hampstead, N.W. and then was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 15 November, 1917.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> On 19 September, 1918, he was appointed to the {{UK-Saumarez|f=t}} for torpedo duties with the {{UK-DF|12}}.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> ==Post-war== Willis was appointed to {{UK-Stuart}} for {{UK-Seymour}} for torpedo duties with {{UK-DF|11}} on 17 January, 1919. On 5 March, this posting was changed to {{UK-Wallace}} for torpedo duties with the {{UK-DF|1}}. He remained there until 8 January, 1920 when he was moved to {{UK-Renown}}, as ever, to be torpedo officer.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> Willis was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1922. On 4 December, 1923 he began a two year stint as squadron torpedo officer in {{UK-Coventry}}.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> Willis was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1929.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> Willis was appointed in command of the {{UK-Barham|f=t}} in April, 1938. ==World War II== Willis was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 5 January, 1940.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> Willis was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 3 April, 1943. The next day, he assumed command of Force H, vice Burroughs. At 0800 on 28 December, he struck his flag as C-in-C, Levant.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> ==Post-wars== Willis was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on 16 October, 1945.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> Willis was promoted to the rank of {{FleetRN}} on 30 March, 1949.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> He was admitted to Haslar Royal Naval Hospital on 4 January, 1951, suffering from Sciatica. He stayed there over a year, being discharged to his own home on 28 January, 1952.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> Willis died at Haslar Royal Naval Hospital on 12 April, 1976.<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> ==See Also== {{refbegin}} * [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+196+Algernon+Usborne+Willis Service Records] {{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algernon_Willis}} {{refend}} <div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}} {{TabNaval}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Edward Blackwood Magee|William E. B. Magee]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Warwick (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Warwick'']]'''<br>20 Oct, 1927<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> &ndash; 1 Aug, 1929<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Douglas Adams Budgen|Douglas A. Budgen]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Thomas Bernard Drew|Thomas B. Drew]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Kent (1926)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Kent'']]'''<br>Jan, 1933<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> &ndash; 20 May, 1934<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Ion Beauchamp Butler Tower|Ion B. B. Tower]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Patrick Macnamara|Patrick Macnamara]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Nelson (1925)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Nelson'']]'''<br>20 May, 1934<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> &ndash; 6 Sep, 1935<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alan Ramsay Dewar|Alan R. Dewar]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Roderick Bruce Tremayne Miles|Roderick B. T. Miles]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vernon (Torpedo Training School)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vernon'']]'''<br>6 Sep, 1935<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> &ndash; 22 Apr, 1938<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Denis William Boyd|Denis W. Boyd]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Edward Horan|Henry E. Horan]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Barham (1914)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Barham'']]'''<br>22 Apr, 1938<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref> &ndash; 2 Feb, 1939<ref>Willis Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/52.|D7576714}} f. 460.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Harold Thomas Coulthard Walker|Harold T. C. Walker]]'''}} {{TabEnd}} </div name=fredbot:appts> ==Footnotes== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Willis, Algernon}} {{CatPerson|UK|1889|1976}} {{CatBritannia|May, 1904}} {{CatAdmiralOfTheFleet|UK}} {{CatTorpedoOfficer|UK}}

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