Walter Bridges
Lieut-Colonel Walter Bridges (1872-1943)
1943 Obituary [1]
1944 Obituary [2]
Lt.-Colonel WALTER BRIDGES, was the principal of Messrs. Walter Bridges and Company, consulting engineers, of Westminster, and was chairman and managing director of the Projectile and Engineering Company, Ltd. He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1905 and was also a Member of the Institutions of Civil and Electrical Engineers.
He was born in 1872 and received his general education at private schools and under private tutors. In 1889 he became a pupil in the works of Messrs. James Simpson and Company, waterworks engineers, and gained experience in the shops and drawing office. He received his first appointment in 1894 as chief assistant engineer to Messrs. Belshaw and Company, electrical and hydraulic engineers, of London, and four years later was promoted to be chief engineer and manager.
In 1903 he entered into partnership with the late Mr. Hal Williams, M.I.Mech.E., consulting engineer, of London, with whom he was associated for seven years. In the dissolution of the partnership in 1910 Colonel Bridges established the firm of Walter Bridges and Company, consulting and supervising engineers, in Westminster, and continued to practice until his death which occurred at Bradfield, Berkshire, on 14th July 1943.
His activities included the design and erection of the new works for the Diesel Engine Company at Ipswich; the reconstruction and reorganization of the marine engine works of Messrs. David Rowan and Company, Glasgow; the design, equipment, or reorganization of many factories, generating stations, etc., throughout this country and abroad; and the carrying out of many important schemes for public utility concerns.
During the war of 1914-18 he served in the Royal Artillery and rose to the command of Field and Siege Artillery Brigades on active service in France. Later in the war he was attached to the Ministry of Munitions with the rank of Lt.-Colonel in the Royal Engineers.