Henry Hans Macfarlane Northcott
Henry Hans Macfarlane Northcott (1884-1916) of the General Engine and Boiler Co
1916 Obituary [1]
Lieutenant HENRY HANS MACFARLANE NORTHCOTT was born in Surrey on 30th January 1884.
He was educated at Ovingdean, near Brighton, and at St. Edward's School, Oxford, afterwards spending a year in Belgium in order to acquire foreign languages.
From January 1902 to 1905 he served his apprenticeship at the Hatcham Iron Works, New Cross, London, of which his father, Mr. W. H. Northcott, was at that time the senior partner; during this period he attended technical classes at the Goldsmiths' Institute.
After his apprenticeship Mr. Northcott remained with the same firm, engaged in their drawing-office and works, and from 1908-10 he acted as draughtsman and works manager under the managing director.
He was sent on the firm's business to Devonport, Portland, and Portsmouth; at the latter dockyard he spent a considerable time looking after torpedo-compressing machinery made after his father's designs.
At the beginning of the War he joined the Armoured-Car Division of the R.N.A.S. as a motorcyclist, and on 3rd March 1915 sailed with Squadron 4 for the Dardanelles, where he was at once promoted to be Chief Petty Officer. He took part in the landing on the Peninsula on 25th April, when many of his squadron lost their lives.
After seven months of active service he was invalided back to England, but was on duty again at his headquarters within a fortnight of his arrival. In December last he was granted a Commission as Lieutenant, R.N.V.R. for R.N.A.S., and was sent at the New Year to H.M. Seaplane Station, Isle of Grain, Kent.
He was killed when flying, on 17th January 1916, at Milton, Kent, in his thirty-second year.
Lieut. Northcott was elected a Graduate of this Institution in 1904, and an Associate Member in 1910.