[1] He was born into a family of farmers in Shincliffe, on the south-east edge of Durham.
[2] In the First World War he served as Staff Surgeon, and was awarded the MVO in 1915.
[1] Willan retired from the RNVR in 1933 with the rank of Surgeon-Captain, and King's Honorary Surgeon.
[1] In 1935, he succeeded Professor Grey Turner as chair of surgery at Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne, and remained in post until his retirement in 1942.
[1] In the Second World War, he was re-employed as Surgeon-Captain RNVR and rose to Surgeon Rear-Admiral, Royal Navy.