Thomas Robert John Ward
Sir Thomas Robert John Ward (1863-1944)
1915 Indian Biographical Dictionary
Ward, Thomas Robert John, C.I.E. (1906); M.I.C.E., Engineer for Irrigation, Delhi; s. of late Walter Ward of Kimberley; b. 1863; educ: Cooper’s Hill; entered Public Works Department, India, 1883; Executive Engineer (Irrigation Branch), Punjab, 1898; on deputation in connection with Seistan Boundary, 1902-06; Superintending Engineer, 1908; Member, Colonies Committee, Punjab, 1907-08; Engineer for Irrigation and Drainage, Delhi Coronation Durbar, 1911; appointed as Engineer in Delhi. Address; Delhi, India.
1944 Obituary [1]
Sir THOMAS ROBERT JOHN WARD, C.I.E., M.V.O., was born at King William's Town, South Africa on the 12th February, 1863, and died at Hatch End, Middlesex, on the 27th January, 1944.
He was educated at St. Cyprians, Kimberley, at Framlingham School, and at the Royal Indian Engineering College, Cooper's Hill.
In 1883 he entered the Indian Public Works Department and was engaged on the construction of the Lower Chenab and Upper Jhelum canals, and in making a survey of the Sind Sagar desert. From 1902 to 1906 he acted as engineer to the Seistan Boundary Commission. In 1908 he was appointed a member of the Colonies Committee, Punjab.
In 1911 he was appointed Engineer Officer for irrigation and drainage, Delhi Coronation Durbar, and in 1912 Engineer Officer to the Home Department, Government of India, for the selection of a site for the new capital at Delhi. In 1913 he was the engineer for the regulation of the River Jamna at Delhi.
From 1913 to 1915 his services were lent to the King of Siam, to prepare a scheme for irrigation works in the Menam Chao Phraya valley, and on his return to the Punjab he was appointed chief engineer and secretary for irrigation and a member of the Punjab Legislative Council.
In 1917 he succeeded Sir Michael Nethersole as Inspector-general of irrigation in India, and in 1918 prepared a report on irrigation development in Mesopotamia. His services were recognized by the award of the C.I.E. in 1906 and the M.V.O. in 1911. He received the honour of knighthood in 1920.
In 1922, after leaving India, he was appointed consulting engineer to Norton Griffiths & Company, Ltd., administrators to the Brazilian Government for irrigational developments in the State of Ceara and the province of Mendoza. He also acted as adviser in connexion with irrigational development by private enterprise in Iraq in 1924, and as irrigaion adviser to the Government of Bulgaria in 1929....[more]