Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Lieutenant-Colonel A. L. Y. Willis, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

1914 Star, with clasp (Capt., K.R. Rif. C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Major); Special Constabulary Long Service, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Inspr.) good very fine and better (4) £300-400

M.I.D. London Gazette 9 July 1919.

Audley Lionel York Willis was born on 9 June 1879 at 78 Chester Square, Belgrave, London, the son of Major-General Sir George Harry Smith Willis, K.C.B., and Ada Mary (née Neeld) Willis. Audley was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Hampshire Regiment of Militia on 21 December 1899 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 27 July 1900 and Captain on 9 June 1902. In June 1908 Willis transferred from the Militia to the Special Reserve and in June 1910 he resigned his commission and was granted the Honorary rank of Major. With the onset of war Willis applied for an appointment to the 5th Battalion K.R.R.C. and on 10 August 1914 he was appointed an Honorary Captain in that battalion. He entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 25 September 1914 on attachment to the 1st Battalion. He was wounded in action at Zonnebeke, 27 October 1914, taking shrapnel fragments to the left temple, which neccessitated him being invalided to England. Recovering, he was appointed Adjutant of the 5th Battalion K.R.R.C. on 27 April 1915. On 26 February 1917 Captain Willis was mentioned in press despatches by the Secretary of State for War. Appointed an Honorary Major in April 1917, Willis returned to France on 19 June 1918 and joined the 33rd Division in the field. On 1 July 1918 he joined the 16th Battalion K.R.R.C. for duty south of Ypres near Brandhoek. On 7 November 1918 Major Willis took command of the battalion for the final few days of the war. He was promoted to Major in February 1919 and served as Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, May-November 1919. Major Willis was demobilized on 29 November 1920 and resigned his commission on 2 March 1920 having been granted the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel (London Gazette 1 March 1920). Lieutenant-Colonel Willis died on 23 September 1953 having served during the Second World War as an Inspector in the Special Constabulary. Sold with a quantity of copied service papers, gazette extracts and other research.