Henry George Read
Henry George Read (1859-1925)
1925 Obituary [1]
HENRY GEORGE READ was born at Swansea OH 9th April 1859, and received his scholastic education at private schools in Norwich.
He served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Allen, Ransome and Co., engineers, then of Chelsea, and on the termination of his indentures in 1879 he spent some three years as draughtsman with various London firms.
In 1883 he became head draughtsman with Messrs. George Richards and Co., Ltd., of Broadheath, Manchester, with whom he remained three years, and then, after gaining experience as works manager, with Messrs. W. T. Glover, of the Bridgewater Street Works, Salford, he acted for four years as engineer to another firm in that district, the Fustian Cutting Machine Co.
In 1894 he left England for Russia to take up a position as engineer, and in 1897 he became a partner in the firm of Messrs. Read, Toder and Co., of Taganrog.
Four years later he joined, as engineer, the firm Messrs. Albert Neve Wilde and Co., of the same town, and in 1902 he became works manager and assistant director with Messrs. M. Helferich-Sadet, of Kharkov, South Russia, for whom he did much responsible work in designing and organizing works for the production of munitions for the Russian Government. Here Mr. Read remained for some years, gaining for himself such a favourable reputation amongst his Russian neighbours that when later on the Revolution occurred, although occasionally exposed to much risk, he was allowed to live for some time unmolested.
The position, however, became subsequently so acute that in 1917 all British subjects were ordered to leave the country, and Mr. Read was then obliged to dispose of all his belongings at great loss, and with his wife and four daughters make his way back to England.
In this country he secured employment with Messrs. Clayton and Shuttleworth, Ltd., Lincoln. and with Messrs. Ruston and Hornsby, Ltd., being thus enabled to make a fresh start, but ill-health supervened and his death took place suddenly on 20th September 1925.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1904.