Charles Martin Burls (1868-1939)
1922 M.Inst.C.E., M.I.N.A., Member of firm of Burls, Gordon and Partners, Cons. Engrs. Address: 4, Lloyd's Avenue, Fenchurch Street, E.C.
1939 Obituary [1]
MANY of our readers associated with marine engineering wil1 learn with deep regret of the death on Tuesday, August 1st, in a London nursing home of Mr. Charles Martin Burl, a partner of Burls, Gordon and Whiteford, marine consulting engineers and surveyors, of 4, Lloyd's Avenue, London, E.C.3. Mr. Burls, who was in his seventy-first year, was born in 1868, and served his apprenticeship with Maudslay, Sons and Field, of London.
On the completion of his training he was engaged in various shipyards in connection with the erection of machinery in ships of the Royal Navy. He gained his sea experience in the Great Western Railway Company's steamers at Bristol, and later served in ships of John Holman and Son, obtaining his Extra First-class Board of Trade Engineer's Certificate in 1895.
Two years later Mr. Burls began to practise as a consulting marine engineer with the firm of E. J. Caiger and Co., and afterwards founded his own firm of C. M. Burls, Gordon and Partner, which at a later date became Burls, Gordon and Whiteford.
He was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Naval Architects, and a Fellow and one of the founder members of the Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Surveyors, of which he was one of the three trustees. Mr. Burls was well known to shipowners and shipbuilding firms, and particularly in recent years was looked upon as an authority on marine engineering matters, his services as an expert witness in the High Courts of Justice and other Courts being frequently called upon.