John Barker Bradshaw
John Barker Bradshaw (1869-1933)
1933 Obituary[1]
"THE LATE LIEUT.-COL. J. B. BRADSHAW, O.B.E.
We regret to note the sudden death on September 20, at his home at Belmont, Surrey, of Lieut.-Colonel John Barker Bradshaw, O.B.E., who retired only two and a half years ago, after a long and active career on the Staff for Royal Engineer Services. He was born on April 4, 1869, and as a youth, from August, 1884, until November, 1889, obtained his first training at Gateshead under Mr. John Bradshaw, contractor. During this period he also attended the Rutherford College and the Durham College of Science, Newcastle, and in his final year in the latter institution (1889) was first prizeman in civil engineering. He was afterwards a prize medallist in brickwork and masonry at the City and Guilds of London Institute, in the honours division. In November, 1889, at the age of 20, Mr. Bradshaw entered the office of Mr. Edward Watson, engineering surveyor, Newcastle, and became engaged on extensive surveys for railways and other works. Six months later, however, he re-entered the employment of Mr. John Bradshaw, and was given the task of superintending various drainage works, the laying out of new roads, and other operations of a similar nature. In March, 1892, he joined Mr. Charles Kempson, A.M.Inst.C.E., as partner, but, in the following year, he withdrew from partnership with Mr. Kempson on his appointment as lieutenant and assistant surveyor of works on the Staff for Royal Engineer Services. At the competitive examination held by the Civil Service Commission for the post, Mr. Bradshaw, who was then only 24 years of age, secured first place out of 15 candidates.
He was stationed at Chatham and other centres, and his duties included the superintendence of drainage reconstruction and other sanitary-engineering works in barracks, and the construction and maintenance of sea walls, jetties, magazines, and-other military defence and War Department works. On April 1, 1907, he was made inspector of works, and rose to the rank of captain. Promotion to the rank of major came eight years later, on March 20, 1915, and in September, 1917, he proceeded overseas to take up duties in Erance and Belgium. Major Bradshaw became acting superintending inspector of works in January, 1918, and after occupying this position abroad for some six months, returned to a home station. Final promotion to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and superintending inspector of works came on September 9, 1928, and he continued in this capacity until his retirement on April 4, 1931. For his services during the war Lieut.-Colonel Bradshaw was made an O.B.E. He became an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1895."