Harold Joseph Beckwith (1883-1944)
1946 Obituary [1]
HAROLD JOSEPH BECKWITH, whose death occurred on 14th June 1944, was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1919. He was born in 1883 and received his technical education at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, and in addition took a McGibbon's Glasgow Marine Engineering Course.
His apprenticeship was served from 1900 to 1904 with Messrs. Ross and Duncan, Ltd., of Govan, and for two brief periods he later gained experience as an erector for Messrs. Davey, Paxman and Company, of Colchester. He then went to sea and served as marine engineer until 1909. During that time he passed the Board of Trade examination for first-class certificates. After holding a temporary engagement as turbine erector with the British Thomson-Houston Company, Rugby, and acting as outside foreman to Messrs. Laurence, Scott and Company, Ltd., of Norwich, from 1910 to 1913, he received the appointment of marine superintendent for the Tees Conservancy Commissioners at Middlesbrough, a position he filled for nearly thirty years.