Service/branch British Army Role British Army officer Allegiance United Kingdom Name Edward Willis Rank Major general | Battles/wars World War I Battles and wars World War I Years of service 1890 - 1934 Died 1961 | |
Awards Order of the Bath, Order of St Michael and St George | ||
Major-General Edward Henry Willis, CB, CMG (1870– 26 June 1961) was a British Army officer who became Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.
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Background
Willis was the second son of Henry Scott Willis, a wool merchant of Northfield, Trowbridge, Wiltshire. His elder brother took over the family wool business, having served as a supernumerary captain (honorary major) with The Duke of Edinburgh's Regiment, and his younger brother was a provincial commissioner in Northern Rhodesia.
Military career
Willis was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery as a second-lieutenant on 14 February 1890, promoted to lieutenant on 14 February 1893, and to captain on 19 January 1900. After serving in World War I, he was appointed major general, Royal Artillery in 1921 and Director of the Royal Artillery in 1927. He became Lieutenant Governor of Jersey in 1929 and retired in 1934.
Later life
Having been appointed CB, CMG and the Order of St Stanislaus, 2nd Class (with swords) in the course of his career, Willis died at his house, Westlands, at Saint Brélade, Jersey on 26 June 1961, survived by his wife Ellis Mary. Willis's son, Major John Henry Willis, M.C., of the 12th Lancers, was the second husband of the actress Hermione Baddeley, from 1940 until their 1946 divorce.