Willis was
commissioned into the
70th Regiment of Foot in 1844. In 1881, he was invited to command an Infantry Brigade at
Aldershot and then in 1884 he was appointed
General Officer Commanding Northern District. He remained in this post until 1886. He was awarded the colonelcy of the
Northumberland Fusiliers from 1895 to his death in 1899. He was made
KCB posthumously in the
1899 Birthday Honours, which were announced days after his death. ==References==