Walter Bridges
Lieut-Colonel Walter Bridges (1872-1943).
1939 Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech.E., M.I.E.E., M.I.Struct.E., M.R. San.I., M.Cons.E. Consulting Engr., 37, Parliament Street, Westminster, S.W.1. Private address: 18, The Vale, Chelsea, S.W.3.
Career: Started in practice as a civil and consulting engr. in 1903; served in the Royal Artillery during the Great War; held a Commission in the R.E. Regular Army Reserve until 1927; Chairman and Managing Director of The Projectile and Eng. Co., Ltd., and a Director of a number of gas and electy. companies.
1943 Obituary [1]
"IT is with deep regret that we have to record the death of Lieut-Colonel Walter Bridges, which took place on Wednesday, July 14th, at his home, "Stretton," South End, Bradfield, Berks. He was the principal of Walter Bridges and Co., consulting and supervising engineers, of 37, Parliament Street, Westminster, and was chairman and managing director of the Projectile and Engineering Company, Ltd.
He was born in 1872 and in 1891 was articled to James Simpson and Co., waterworks engineers, and from 1896 until 1903 served as assistant engineer to the firm. He then entered into partnership with the late Mr. Hal Williams as a consulting engineer. In 1910 the partnership was dissolved and the firm of Walter Bridges and Co., consulting and supervising engineers, was founded. In 1912 he designed and erected the new works for the Diesel Engine Co at Ipswich, which in later years was taken over by Vickers and Petters. Work for the same clients included advisory work in connection with the oil engine driven pumping station erected by the company at Glad.stone Dock, Liverpool, for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. He was also responsible for the design of the oil engine generating section of the Chelsea Electric Lighting Company, in which special anti-vibration concrete foundations were laid down. Other Diesel Engine Company work included numerous power schemes and irrigation works in Egypt.
During the last war Waiter Bridges saw service with the Royal Artillery, in the Field Artillery, and Siege Artillery, and he was commissioned in the Royal Engineers with the rank of Lieut.-Colonel. Later in the war he was transferred to the Ministry of Munitions, serving under Sir Alexander Walker and the late Lord Stevenson. He also served on the National Salvage Council and had to do with waste Army products. After the war he was appointed consulting engineer for the Clyde Navigation Trustees. Amongst his principal undertakings were the progressive reconstruction and reorganisation of the marine engine works of David Rowan and Co., Glasgow, and the new works of the Manganese Bronze and Brass Co at Ipswich.
Colonel Bridges found time for much expert witness work in connection with engineering litigation and arbitration, and took part in many inquiries held under the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport, the Board of Trade, and the Electricity Commissioners. He was also connected with a considerable number of local authority schemes and Parliamentary Bills. He was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and the Institution of Structural Engineers, besides belonging to the Royal Sanitary Institute and the Association of Consulting Engineers. "
1944 Obituary [2]
Lt.-Colonel WALTER BRIDGES, was the principal of Messrs. Walter Bridges and Company, consulting engineers, of Westminster, and was chairman and managing director of the Projectile and Engineering Company, Ltd. He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1905 and was also a Member of the Institutions of Civil and Electrical Engineers.
He was born in 1872 and received his general education at private schools and under private tutors. In 1889 he became a pupil in the works of Messrs. James Simpson and Company, waterworks engineers, and gained experience in the shops and drawing office. He received his first appointment in 1894 as chief assistant engineer to Messrs. Belshaw and Company, electrical and hydraulic engineers, of London, and four years later was promoted to be chief engineer and manager.
In 1903 he entered into partnership with the late Mr. Hal Williams, M.I.Mech.E., consulting engineer, of London, with whom he was associated for seven years. In the dissolution of the partnership in 1910 Colonel Bridges established the firm of Walter Bridges and Company, consulting and supervising engineers, in Westminster, and continued to practice until his death which occurred at Bradfield, Berkshire, on 14th July 1943.
His activities included the design and erection of the new works for the Diesel Engine Company at Ipswich; the reconstruction and reorganization of the marine engine works of Messrs. David Rowan and Company, Glasgow; the design, equipment, or reorganization of many factories, generating stations, etc., throughout this country and abroad; and the carrying out of many important schemes for public utility concerns.
During the war of 1914-18 he served in the Royal Artillery and rose to the command of Field and Siege Artillery Brigades on active service in France. Later in the war he was attached to the Ministry of Munitions with the rank of Lt.-Colonel in the Royal Engineers.