Herbert Osborn Wraith (1877-1942)
1943 Obituary [1]
Major HERBERT OSBORN WRAITH was born in 1877 and received his technical education at the Durham College of Science. On the completion of his apprenticeship with the Weardale Iron and Coal Company in 1899 he entered the drawing office of Messrs. Clarke, Chapman and Company, Ltd., Gateshead, and subsequently was made leading draughtsman.
After three years' experience as works engineer to Messrs. W. Doxford and Sons, Ltd., Sunderland, he joined Messrs. Vickers, Ltd., Sheffield, as head of the works driving department and retained this position for nine years, when he became managing director of Messrs. Mariott and Stewart (1912), Ltd., Twickenham. During the war of 1914-18 Major Wraith saw considerable and varied service; he commanded the 202nd Field Company, R.E., during 1915-16, and later took charge of the training of recruits at Chatham, his last appointment being that of 0.C., Royal Engineers, on the West Coast of Africa.
After being engaged for a short period with Messrs. Sutcliffe, Speakman and Company he went to Messrs. Chance Brothers as works and general engineer, remaining with that company until 1929. Subsequently he practised as a consulting engineer for a period of four years, being chiefly concerned with the layout of factories. The remainder of his career was spent in Rhodesia where he went in 1936 to take up an appointment with the Rhodesia Chrome Mines. Since 1937 he had been the chief engineer of the Bulawayo Corporation Electricity Department and was responsible for the layout of the power station.
Major Wraith, whose death occurred on 2nd August 1942, was elected a Member of the Institution in 1920. He was also a Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
1942 Obituary [2]
Major HERBERT OSBORN WRAITH was born at Spennymoor, Co. Durham, in 1876, his father being General Manager of the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Co. with steel works in that town.
He received his early education at the North-Eastern County School, Barnard Castle, where he was prominent in both scholastic attainments and sport, and then proceeded to Armstrong College of Durham University, for a 3-year course in engineering.
On leaving the College he served an apprenticeship with the Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Co., and subsequently spent two years as draughtsman with Messrs. Clarke Chapman and Co. at Gateshead.
From 1904 to 1912 he was employed by Vickers Ltd. at Sheffield, where he held the position of Head of the Works Driving Department.
From September, 1914, to May, 1919, he served with the Royal Engineers in France, at Chatham and in West Africa, and attained the rank of major. From 1922 to 1931 he was Works Manager and General Manager with Messrs. Chance Brothers and Co., Lighthouse Works, Smethwick.
In 1936 he went to Southern Rhodesia and since then was employed by Rhodesia Chrome Mines, Ltd., and in the Town Electrical Engineer's Department, Bulawayo, until his death on the 2nd August, 1942.
He was elected an Associate of The Institution in 1901, an Associate Member in 1903 and a Member in 1907.