John Allan (1888-1942)
John Allan (1888-1942)
1943 Obituary [1]
JOHN ALLAN was born in 1888, and while receiving his technical education at Dunedin Technical School, New Zealand, served his apprenticeship at the Oamaru Woollen Mills and with Messrs. A. and T. Burt, Ltd., general engineers. After a brief period as fitter to Messrs. Stevenson and Cook, he went to sea and served in various steamships first as marine and subsequently as chief refrigerating engineer.
He eventually rose to be second engineer and during this period obtained his Board of Trade Extra First-Class Certificate. He joined the Royal Navy in 1916 as engineer lieutenant, R.N.R., and served in H.M.S. Shannon, being subsequently transferred to the Royal Navy.
On demobilization in 1919 he returned to New Zealand and was employed as refrigerating engineer with Messrs. Thomas Borthwick and Sons. In the succeeding year he was appointed branch manager, later becoming manager, of the Acetone Illuminating and Welding Company, Ltd., Dunedin, with responsibility to the managing director for the manufacture of gases used in welding.
He was also concerned with the installation of an electrolytic oxygen plant, the first of its kind to be erected in New Zealand, as well as with many other kinds of equipment. Mr. Allan was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1934. His death occurred on 21st July 1942.