Gilbert Whitaker
Gilbert Whitaker (1884-1918)
1919 Obituary [1]
Captain GILBERT WHITAKER, 34th Battalion Upper Burma Defence Force, was born at Leeds on 16th May 1884.
He received his early education at the Central High School, Leeds, and at the age of sixteen began a three years' apprenticeship at the works of Messrs. Wilson Hartnell and Co., Volt Works, Leeds.
He next took a three years' course on Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at the University of Leeds, and at the age of twenty-two was appointed assistant electrical engineer of the Caucasus Copper Co., Ltd., Batoum, where after a short period he became chief electrical engineer. During his eight years' association with this Company be was responsible for the electrification of the greater part of the mines and smelting works, including the designing and erecting of a 4,000 h.p. turbo-generator station.
In 1914 he returned to England, and early in the following year was appointed Chief Engineer to the Burma Mines, Ltd., of the Burma Corporation. Amongst some of the most important work he carried out was the designing and superintending the erection of practically the whole of the electrical plant at present in use, and the designing of the large hydro-electric plant at Namtu. He held a Commission for some little time, and received his captaincy in March 1917.
During the War he played a prominent part in training and organizing battalion.
His death took place, from pneumonia, cat Namtu, Upper Burma, on 19th December 1918, at the age of thirty-four.
He was elected an Associate Member of this Institution in 1909.