Orders, Decorations and Medals

An important group of four medals awarded to Admiral Sir George Atkinson-Willes, K.C.B., Royal Navy, Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, 1903-06, who was mentioned in despatches and promoted for services with the Naval Rocket Brigade in Abyssinia in 1866-67, and knighted for services in 1904 when he directed the combined naval and military forces that captured the Dervish stronghold of Illig in Somaliland

Jubilee 1897, silver; Coronation 1902, silver; Abyssinia 1867 (Ag. Sub Lieut. G. L. Atkinson, H.M.S. Octavia), pierced and neatly fitted with a ring connecting the medal to the crown suspension; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Rear Admiral G. L. Atkinson-Willes) mounted as worn, minor edge bruising, otherwise very fine and better (4) £3500-4500

Ex Fevyer Collection 1998.

George Lambart Atkinson was born on 13 July 1847, the son of the Rev. Thomas Atkinson of Kirby Sigston, North Yorkshire, and Henrietta Jane, daughter of Captain George Wicken Willes, R.N. He was educated at Leamington College and the Royal Naval Academy, Gosport. He entered Britannia as a Naval Cadet on 13 March 1861 and joined his first seagoing appointment on the Edgar, the flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Sydney Dacres in the Mediterranean in June 1862, being appointed Midshipman on the same vessel in December. He served on the Octavia, June 1865-July 1869, and held the acting rank of Sub Lieutenant during June 1867-July 1869. From Octavia he was selected for service in the Abyssinian Expedition as Second-in-Command of the 2nd Battery of the 100-strong Naval Rocket Brigade. The brigade, armed with 6-pounder rocket tubes, landed at Annesley Bay below Massowah and accompanied General Napier’s force on the 300 mile march to King Theodore’s capital at Magdala. He was present at the Battle of Arogee, 10 April 1868, and, three days later, at the storming of Magdala. For his services in Abyssinia Atkinson was mentioned in despatches and in August 1868, was advanced to Lieutenant.

He was promoted to Commander in January 1881 when serving on the Iron Duke and advanced to Captain on Half Pay in October 1886. He served as Captain successively on the Comus, Indefatigable, Agamemnon, Hero and Howe, 1889-95. During 1896-98 he was Commodore of the Training Squadron in Icelandic and Scandinavian waters with his pennant on the cruiser Active. During this time he had to intervene in fishing disputes in those waters. In 1898 he was appointed to the command of the Dockyard Reserve at Chatham. He was A.D.C. to Queen Victoria, 1899-1901 and to King Edward VII briefly in 1901 when he relinquished the post upon being advanced to Flag Rank in February 1901. In the same year he assumed the additional name of ‘Willes’ in compliance with the will of an uncle, Admiral Sir George Willes, G.C.B. He was Rear-Admiral in command of the Home Squadron and Second-in-Command of the Home Fleet, 1902-03. In 1903 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station, hoisting his flag on the Hyacinth on 9 June. As such, he directed the mixed naval and military force, British and Italian, which captured the Dervish stronghold of Illig in 1904. For his services at Illig, he received the Thanks of the Admiralty, the Army Council and the Foreign Secretary, and on 30 June 1905 was gazetted the K.C.B. He was advanced to Vice-Admiral in October 1905 and to Admiral in November 1908. He retired from the Service on 13 July 1912 and died on Christmas Day 1921.