Claude Higgs (c1874-1943)
1944 Obituary [1]
CLAUDE HIGGS, who died on the 23rd October, 1943, at the age of 69, received his early education under his father, Dr. Paget Higgs, who was well known in the Manchester area as a mathematician and electrical scientist. He entered the electrical engineering profession in 1897, when he joined the staff of the Jandus Arc Lamp Co. Later, he was employed in turn at Veritys and at Johnson and Phillips, as a Sales Engineer, and in 1903 he went to the British Westinghouse Co., eventually becoming Assistant Manager of the London branch.
He had long been associated with industrial electrification and public supply work, but specialization in marine work had brought him into contact with the Admiralty, where he obtained an appointment shortly before the end of the war of 1914-18, serving at Devonport Dockyard. Here he was responsible for the generating station and all the shore establishment work in and associated with the Dockyard. In 1924 he was transferred to Admiralty Headquarters, where he was engaged on the electrification of Fleet shore establishments in all parts of the world. His zeal and enthusiasm brought him official expressions of appreciation from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in 1928 and 1929, in connection with special items of work. Unfortunately, failing sight considerably handicapped his activities during his later years. He was invalided from the Service in 1935 on this account, and finally he became almost blind.
He was always admired for his ability and his painstaking devotion to duty, and he never expected more from his staff than he was prepared to do himself. He will long be remembered for his great capacity for work.
He joined The Institution as a Member in 1919.