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Sir General George Harry Smith Willis, GCB, KStJ

Male 1823 - 1900  (77 years)


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  • Name George Harry Smith Willis  [1] 
    Title Sir 
    Prefix General 
    Suffix GCB, KStJ 
    Birth 11 Nov 1823  Sopley Park, Sopley, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Occupation 23 Apr 1841  Malta Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Obtained a commission as Ensign in the 77th Foot 
    Occupation 30 Aug 1844  [1] 
    Commissioned as Lieutenant 
    Occupation 27 Dec 1850  [1] 
    Commissioned as Captain 
    Military service 1854  Crimea Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2] 
    Crimean War
    Affair of Bulganac
    Affair of Mackenzie's Farm 
    Military service 20 Sep 1854  Crimea Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2] 
    Battle of Alma 
    Military service 5 Nov 1854  Crimea Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2] 
    Battle of Inkerman 
    Occupation 12 Dec 1854  [1] 
    Commissioned as brevet Major 
    Military service 13 Apr 1855  Crimea Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Appointed deputy-assistant quartermaster-general on Lord Raglan's staff 
    Military service 24 Apr 1855  Crimea Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    For his services in the Crimean War he was mentioned in dispatches ( London Gazette ), he received the war medal with three clasps, the Sardinian and Turkish medals, the 5th class of the legion of honour and of the Medjidie. 
    Military service 18 Jun 1855  Crimea Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2] 
    Attack of the Redan 
    Military service 16 Aug 1855  Crimea Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 4] 
    Battle of Tchernaya 
    Military service 8 Sep 1855  Crimea Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2] 
    Fall of Sebastopol 
    Military service 11 May 1856  Crimea Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Appointed assistant quartermaster-general to the 4th Division until the return of the troops to England 
    Occupation 6 Jun 1856  [1] 
    Commissioned as brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 
    Occupation 19 Dec 1856  [1] 
    Commissioned as Major unattached 
    Military service 1857  [3] 
    Formed the 2nd Battalion of the 6th foot (Warwickshire) and served as Major 
    Military service 25 May 1858  Gibraltar Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Appointed assistant quartermaster-general at Gibraltar 
    Military service 20 Feb 1859  Malta Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Assistant adjutant-general 
    Occupation 26 Jun 1862  [1] 
    Commissioned as brevet Colonel 
    Military service 22 Feb 1866  [3] 
    Assistant Quartermaster-general on the staff of the Southern District 
    Title acquired or granted 20 May 1871  [3] 
    Companion of the Order of Bath, military division. 
    Military service 25 Aug 1873  London, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Served on the headquarters staff at the War Office as assistant quartermaster-general 
    Occupation 29 May 1875  [1] 
    Commissioned as Major-General, antedated to 28 June 1868 
    Military service 1 Apr 1878  [3] 
    Commanded the Northern Military District 
    Occupation 8 May 1880  [1] 
    Commissioned as Lieutenant-General 
    Military service 1882  [1, 5] 
    (five times mentioned in despatches,
    received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, ECB., Medal with Clasp, and 2nd Class of the Osmanieh). 
    Military service 1882  Egypt Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    In command of the troops in the engagements at El Magfar the battle of Tel-el-Kebir at the capture of Mahsameh. 
    Military service 1882  Egypt Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 5] 
    Selected to command the first division in the Egyption expedition 
    Military service 8 Sep 1882  Egypt Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Mentioned in despatches 
    Military service 9 Sep 1882  Egypt Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Amed Urabi Pasha seized what he considered his last chance to attack the British position. A fierce battle ensued on the railway line at 7 am. General Willis sallied out from emplacements to drive back the Egyptians, who at 12 pm returned to their trenches. 
    Military service 9 Sep 1882  Egypt Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Second battle of Kassassin 
    Military service 13 Sep 1882  Egypt Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Wounded on the assault of the lines of Tel-el-Kebir 
    Military service 26 Sep 1882  Egypt Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Mentioned in despatches 
    Military service 6 Oct 1882  Egypt Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Mentioned in despatches 
    Military service 2 Nov 1882  Egypt Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Mentioned in despatches 
    Military service 1 May 1884  Portsmouth, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Commanded the Southern Military District from headquarters in Portsmouth 
    Occupation 11 May 1887  [1] 
    Commissioned as General 
    Military service Jul 1890  [1] 
    Appointed Colonel of Devonshire Regiment 
    Military service Oct 1890  [1] 
    Honorary Colonel of 2nd Hants volunteer artillery  
    Military service 11 Nov 1890  [1] 
    Retired from Service 
    Title acquired or granted 25 May 1895  [1] 
    Decorated with GCB.
    Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Knight Grand Cross (GCB) 
    Title acquired or granted Aft 1895  [1] 
    Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knight of Justice 
    Education Sopley, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Educated Privately 
    Military service Mediterranean Sea Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Military service West Indies Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Military service North America Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Military service Sir George Willis served uninterruptedly throughout the Eastern campaign from April 1854 to July 1856;—
    with the 77th Regt. until May 1855, after which as D.A.Q.M. General at Hef.d Quarters, and as A.Q.M. General of the
    4th Division; was present at the affairs on the Bulganac and at Balaklava, bat'lon of Alma and Inkerman, assault of
    the Quarries, attack of the Redan on i8th June, battle of Tchemaya, final assault of the Redan on 8tli Sept., and
    served for upwards of seven months in the Trenches, including the repulse of several sorties, and was frequently in
    command in the advance Trenches (Medal with three Clasps, Brevets of Major and Lt.Colonel, Grand Officer of the
    Legion of Honor, Sardinian and Turkish Medals, and 5th Class of the MedjitUe). Served in the Egyjitian war of
    1882 in command of the ist Division and was present at the engagements of El Magfar, Tel-el-Mahuta, and
    Kassasin (9th Sept.), and in the battle of Tel-el-Kebir—slightly wounded (five times mentioned in despatches,
    received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, ECB., Medal with Clasp, and 2nd Class of the Osmanieh).  [5, 6] 
    Military service 1897  [1] 
    He was transferred to the Colonelcy of his old regiment, the Middlesex  
    Death 29 Nov 1900  Seabank, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Burial Sopley Church, Sopley, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I511  One Place Study of Sopley
    Last Modified 12 May 2020 

    Father Lieutenant George Brander Willis 
    Family ID F120  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Ada Mary Neeld 
    Family ID F122  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Mar 2019 

    Family 2 Eliza Morgan 
    Marriage 1856 
    Family ID F121  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Mar 2019 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 11 Nov 1823 - Sopley Park, Sopley, Hampshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Obtained a commission as Ensign in the 77th Foot - 23 Apr 1841 - Malta Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Crimean War Affair of Bulganac Affair of Mackenzie's Farm - 1854 - Crimea Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Battle of Alma - 20 Sep 1854 - Crimea Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Battle of Inkerman - 5 Nov 1854 - Crimea Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Appointed deputy-assistant quartermaster-general on Lord Raglan's staff - 13 Apr 1855 - Crimea Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - For his services in the Crimean War he was mentioned in dispatches ( London Gazette ), he received the war medal with three clasps, the Sardinian and Turkish medals, the 5th class of the legion of honour and of the Medjidie. - 24 Apr 1855 - Crimea Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Attack of the Redan - 18 Jun 1855 - Crimea Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Battle of Tchernaya - 16 Aug 1855 - Crimea Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Fall of Sebastopol - 8 Sep 1855 - Crimea Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Appointed assistant quartermaster-general to the 4th Division until the return of the troops to England - 11 May 1856 - Crimea Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Appointed assistant quartermaster-general at Gibraltar - 25 May 1858 - Gibraltar Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Assistant adjutant-general - 20 Feb 1859 - Malta Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Served on the headquarters staff at the War Office as assistant quartermaster-general - 25 Aug 1873 - London, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - In command of the troops in the engagements at El Magfar the battle of Tel-el-Kebir at the capture of Mahsameh. - 1882 - Egypt Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Selected to command the first division in the Egyption expedition - 1882 - Egypt Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Mentioned in despatches - 8 Sep 1882 - Egypt Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Amed Urabi Pasha seized what he considered his last chance to attack the British position. A fierce battle ensued on the railway line at 7 am. General Willis sallied out from emplacements to drive back the Egyptians, who at 12 pm returned to their trenches. - 9 Sep 1882 - Egypt Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Second battle of Kassassin - 9 Sep 1882 - Egypt Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Wounded on the assault of the lines of Tel-el-Kebir - 13 Sep 1882 - Egypt Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Mentioned in despatches - 26 Sep 1882 - Egypt Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Mentioned in despatches - 6 Oct 1882 - Egypt Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Mentioned in despatches - 2 Nov 1882 - Egypt Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - Commanded the Southern Military District from headquarters in Portsmouth - 1 May 1884 - Portsmouth, Hampshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEducation - Educated Privately - - Sopley, Hampshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - - Mediterranean Sea Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - - West Indies Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary service - - North America Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 29 Nov 1900 - Seabank, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Sopley Church, Sopley, Hampshire, England Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend Address Street Location Hamlet Village Parish Suburb Town City Conurbation Area County/Shire Province/Region State Country Not Set

  • Photos
    Sir George Harry Smith Willis    		Sir George Harry Smith Willis
    Sir George Harry Smith Willis

    © National Portrait Gallery, London

    Printed by Maclure & Macdonald, after William Punderson Glaisby
    chromolithograph, published 30 September 1882
    24 3/8 in. x 16 1/2 in. (620 mm x 418 mm) paper size
    acquired
    NPG D37094

    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/


  • Sources 
    1. [S33] https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/search/master/?type=person&source=&search_type=person&master_event=Occupational&fn=&phonetic_mode_fn=1&sn=&phonetic_mode_sn=1&kw=sopley&yr=&range=10&search=Search#loadwindow_-1357170757, Occupation Apprenticeship Records , (TheGenealogist.co.uk), 29 Mar 2019, https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/search/master/?type=person&source=&search_type=person&master_event=Occupational&fn=&phonetic_mode_fn=1&sn=&phonetic_mode_sn=1&kw=sopley&yr=&range=10&search=Search#loadwindow_-1357170757 (Reliability: 2).
      Dictionary of National Biography
      Willis, Sir George Harry Smith


    2. [S36] John Barham, Crimean War - CWRS, (http://cwrs.russianwar.co.uk/cwrs-R-jbarham-chapter08.html), 31 Mar 2019, Chapter 8 (Reliability: 2).

    3. [S33] https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/search/master/?type=person&source=&search_type=person&master_event=Occupational&fn=&phonetic_mode_fn=1&sn=&phonetic_mode_sn=1&kw=sopley&yr=&range=10&search=Search#loadwindow_-1357170757, Occupation Apprenticeship Records , (TheGenealogist.co.uk), 30 Mar 2019, https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/search/master/?type=person&source=&search_type=person&master_event=Occupational&fn=&phonetic_mode_fn=1&sn=&phonetic_mode_sn=1&kw=sopley&yr=&range=10&search=Search#loadwindow_-1357170757 (Reliability: 2).
      Dictionary of National Biography
      Willis, Sir George Harry Smith


    4. [S37] Battle of the Tchernaya, (http://www.victorianweb.org/history/crimea/paget/tchernaya.html), 31 Mar 2019, http://www.victorianweb.org/history/crimea/paget/tchernaya.html (Reliability: 2).

    5. [S35] Lieutenant General H G Hart, National Library of Scotland Military Lists, (John Murray, Ablemarle Street, London), 30 Mar 2019, 25 (Reliability: 3).

    6. [S38] Army Lists, (https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/105742245?mode=transcription), 31 Mar 2019, 25 (Reliability: 2).


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