Harry Willans Explained

Harry Willans
Birth Date:1892
Death Date:5 February 1943 (aged 50−51)
Birth Place:Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
Death Place:Tobruk
Placeofburial:Tobruk War Cemetery
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:British Army
Serviceyears:1916−1943
Servicenumber:16877
Rank:Major-General
Commands:168th (2nd London) Infantry Brigade
47th (London) Infantry Division
Battles:First World War
Second World War
Awards:Companion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Mentioned in dispatches (2)

Major-General Harry Willans (1892 – 5 February 1943) was a British Army officer.

Military career

Born the son of James and Henrietta Willans and educated at Aldenham School,[1] Willans was commissioned into the Bedfordshire Regiment on 23 May 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross in January 1917 and appointed a companion of the Distinguished Service Order in June 1918.

He became commanding officer of the Artists Rifles in 1933, commander of the 168th (2nd London) Infantry Brigade in May 1938 and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 47th (London) Infantry Division in August 1939.[2] [3] With this assignment came the rank of major general. He went on to be Director-General of Welfare and Education at the War Office in December 1940.[3] He was killed in a flying accident at El Adem Airfield near Tobruk in February 1943.[4]

He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1943 New Year Honours.

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Harry Willans DSO MC. Stevenage at War. 18 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Willans, Harry. Generals.dk. 18 June 2020.
  3. Web site: Army Commands. 18 June 2020.
  4. Web site: General Willans Killed; Head of British Army Welfare and Education Dies in Crash. New York Times. 9 February 1943. 18 June 2020.