Royal Naval Biography/Willes, George Wickens
GEORGE WICKENS WILLES, Esq.
Knight of the Royal Neapolitan Order of St. Ferdinand and Merit.
[Post-Captain of 1814.]
This officer was a lieutenant of the Active frigate, Captain Richard Hussey Moubray, at the destruction of a Turkish squadron, anchored within the Dardanelles, Feb. 19, 1807[1]. We subsequently find him serving as first of the Spartan, Captain Jahleel Brenton, in which ship he continued, on the Mediterranean station, until his promotion to the rank of commander.
In April, 1809, Lieutenant Willes performed a service of some importance in the Adriatic, as will be seen by the following official statement:–
“Spartan, Trieste, April 27, 1809.
“Being, with the Amphion and Mercury, off the town of Pesaro, on the 23d instant, I observed a number of vessels lying in the mole, and thought it practicable to take possession of them; for which purpose the ships were anchored with springs upon their cables, within half a mile of the town, and the boats formed into two divisions; the first consisting of launches with carronades, and other boats carrying field-pieces, under the orders of Lieutenant Phillott, first of the Amphion, took a station to the northward of the town; and the second division, consisting of rocket-boats, under Lieutenant Baumgardt, of the Spartan, to the southward; both divisions commanded by Lieutenant Willes, first of the Spartan. As soon as these arrangements were made, I sent a flag of truce on shore, to demand the surrender of all the vessels, adding, that should any resistance be made, the governor must be answerable for the consequences. I gave him half an hour to deliberate.
“At half-past 11 a.m. the officer returned with a message from the commandant, stating, that in half an hour I should receive his answer.
“I waited 35 minutes from the time the boat came alongside, when, observing no flag of truce flying on shore, but that troops were assembling in considerable numbers in the streets, and on the quays, and that the inhabitants were busily employed in dismantling the vessels, I hauled down the flag of truce, fired one shot over the town to give warning to the women and children, and shortly after made a signal to commence firing, which was instantly obeyed by the ships and boats. At 32 minutes after 12, observing several flags of truce hung out in the town, I made the signal to cease firing, and Lieutenant Willes pulled into the harbour, where he was informed, that the commandant had made his escape, with all the military.
“I considered the place as surrendered at discretion, and gave orders for all the boats to be employed in bringing out the vessels, and the marines to be landed to protect them. Lieutenant Willes made the most judicious arrangements to put these orders into execution: the marines were drawn up on the marina, under Lieutenant Moore, R.M. of the Amphion; the launches stationed in such a manner as to enfilade the principal streets, and the other boats’ crews employed in rigging the vessels, and laying out warps to haul them off with, as soon as the tide should flow.
“About 2 p.m. I received a letter from the commandant, dated half-past one, demanding another hour for deliberation; I refused him a moment, and told him, in case of resistance, I should destroy the town. By half-past six, 13 vessels deeply laden[2] were brought off; several others had been scuttled by the inhabitants, and sunk; some were still aground and dismantled; there were besides a few in ballast, and a number of fishing boats. I should have burnt the merchant vessels, but was apprehensive of setting fire to the town, and destroying the fishing-boats; I therefore directed Lieutenant Willes to blow up the castle at the entrance of the harbour, and bring off his people, which he did at 7 o’clock.
“I am happy to say we did not hear of any lives being lost in the town, although many of the houses were much damaged; one man only was killed by the explosion of the castle; after the match had been lighted, and our people retreated, he approached it; a musket was fired to drive him away, but he sought refuge behind the walls, and was buried in the ruins.”
“As the enemy made no active resistance, I can only express my admiration of the zeal and promptitude with which Captain Hoste and the Hon. Henry Duncan executed the orders they received, and the manner in which they placed their ships. Lieutenant Willes upon this, as upon every other occasion, displayed the greatest energy, skill, and judgment; the arrangements he made for the defence of his party, whilst in the harbour, and the expedition he used in sending out the prizes, do him the highest credit. The conduct of Lieutenants Phillott and Baumgardt, in the command of their respective divisions, and Lieutenant Moore, in that of the marines, was also exemplary.
(Signed)“J. Brenton.”
On the 2d May, 1809, the Spartan and Mercury chased two vessels into the port of Cesenatico, the entrance of which is very narrow, and was defended by a battery of 2 long 24-pounders, and a castle. Observing that several other vessels were lying there. Captain Brenton determined to attack them; the result is thus stated by him, in a letter to Lord Collingwood, dated off Rovigno:–
“This coast is so shoal, that we had only 4 fathoms considerably out of gun-shot of the town; I was therefore under the necessity of sending the boats a-head, and on each bow, to lead us in, with directions to make a signal when in 3 fathoms. We were by this means enabled to anchor, at noon, in a-quarter-three, within range of grape of the battery, and very soon silenced it, when the boats, under the command of Lieutenant Willes, pushed in, and took possession of it, turning the guns upon the castle and town, which were soon after deserted. We captured in the port 12 vessels, some laden with corn for Venice, and the others in ballast. We filled the latter with hemp and iron, out of the magazines for those articles that were on the quay, and in which the sails and rudders of some of the vessels were concealed. Another large vessel laden with iron, which lay scuttled at the entrance of the harbour, we burnt, and after blowing up the castle and magazine, destroying the battery, and spiking the guns, the boats came off, I am happy to say, without the loss of a man, or any person being wounded, although much exposed to the fire of the battery, as well as musketry; nor was any damage done to the ships.
“The Mercury, from Captain Duncan’s anxiety to place her as near the town as possible, took the ground, but in so favorable a position as gave the fullest effect to her fire. She was hove off by 6 p.m. without having sustained any injury. I never witnessed more zeal and energy than was evinced by Captain Duncan upon this occasion.
“Lieutenant Willes displayed great gallantry in taking possession of the battery, the moment the ships had ceased firing; his exertions in bringing out the vessels were very great. Much credit is also due to the officers and men of both ships for their activity.”
Eight days subsequent to this affair, the Spartan, in concert with some Austrian troops, compelled the French garrison of Lusin, an island on the coast of Croatia, to surrender at discretion. The conduct of Lieutenant Willes on this occasion was likewise particularly noticed by Captain Brenton.
In Oct. following, Lieutenant Willes assisted at the reduction of Zante, Cephalonia, and Cerigo; the latter island defended by three forts, one of which (St. Joaquim), mounting 2 long nines and 2 Venetian 8-pounders, “was completely silenced by the gallant manner in which he attacked it in a prize-schooner under his orders, with a party of the 35th regiment on board.”
The Spartan’s glorious conflict with an enemy’s squadron in the bay of Naples, May 3, 1810, has been recorded at p. 268, et seq. of Vol. II. Part I. The following is an extract of the official letter written by her captain on that occasion.
“I was myself wounded about the middle of the action, which lasted two hours; but my place was most ably supplied by Mr. Willes, first lieutenant, whose merit becomes more brilliant by every opportunity he has of shewing it; he is without exception one of the best and most gallant officers I ever met with.”
The subject of this memoir was made commander June 2, 1810, and soon afterwards appointed to the Leveret brig, on the North Sea station, where he captured the following privateers:–
A Danish cutter, of 6 guns and 20 men, taken by boats, June 28, 1811; le Prospere, French lugger, of 3 guns and 39 men, Sept. 22, 1811; le Dunkerquois, cutter, of 14 guns and 36 men, Nov. 10, 1811; and le Brave, lugger, of 4 guns and 22 men, Aug. 4, 1812.
On the 26th June, in the latter year, Captain Willes obtained permission to accept and wear the insignia of a Knight of the third class of the above Neapolitan Order, which the King of the Two Sicilies had been pleased to confer upon him, for his " great courage and intrepidity," as first lieutenant of the Spartan. He was removed from the Leveret to the Bacchus brig, Dec. 6, 1813; advanced to post rank, June 7, 1814; and appointed to the Cherub 26, fitting for the coast of Africa, Oct. 3, 1817. His subsequent appointments were, Dec. 15, 1818, to the Cherub, 26; and, Jan. 17, 1823, to the Brazen of similar force; in which latter ship we find him successively employed on the South American and African stations. He returned to Portsmouth from Sierra Leone, Dec. 4, 1826.
Captain Willes married Anne Ellen, second daughter of Sir Edmund Lacon, Bart. His brother. Lieutenant Cornelius Willes, R.N. died at Gosport, Hants, July 10, 1810, aged 22 years.
Agent.– Messrs. Stilwell.
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. note ‡ at p. 808.
- ↑ With oil, fruit, hides, hemp, &c.