Arthur Henry Hall
Arthur Henry Hall (1876–1949), engineer
1950 Obituary [1]
"ARTHUR HENRY HALL, C.B., C.B.E., whose death occurred at Farnham, Surrey, on 10th September 1949, was formerly the chief superintendent of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, Hants. He was the eldest son of the late Mr. H. S. Hall, the author of mathematical books, and was born at Clifton in 1876. After receiving his general education at Clifton College he went up to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he obtained first-class honours in the Mechanical Science Tripos. His apprenticeship was served with Messrs. William Denny and Brothers, Ltd., Dumbarton, shipbuilders, from 1898 to 1903, in whose employment he continued as a draughtsman for another year.
He was then appointed a supervisor in the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich Arsenal and in the following year became an assistant mechanical engineer in the ordnance factories. In 1914 he transferred to the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, but on the outbreak of war he returned to Woolwich as assistant superintendent in the mechanical engineering department, where he remained until 1917 when he joined the Admiralty staff, and for two years was director of mine and torpedo production. His services were then lent to the Ministry of Munitions and he was appointed controller of stores disposal, and served on the disposal and liquidation commission.
In 1926 he went to Cardington, Bedfordshire, as superintendent of production at the Royal Airship Works, and two years later received his final appointment as chief superintendent of the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, a position he occupied with distinction until his retirement in 1941. Under his guidance the reputation of the Establishment as a centre for aeronautical research and development was greatly enhanced and its activities were extended in more than one direction. After his retirement Mr. Hall served as consultant to the Ministry of Aircraft Production until the conclusion of hostilities in 1945.
He was created a C.B.E. in 1918 and a C.B. in 1937. He was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1905, and was transferred to Membership in the following year. He was also a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.