Sir Frederick Wilfrid Scott Stokes, KBE (9 April 1860 – 7 February 1927) [1] was the inventor in 1915 of the Stokes Mortar, which saw extensive use in the latter half of the First World War and was one of the first truly portable mortars.
A civil engineer by trade, Stokes was appointed chairman and managing director of Ransomes & Rapier, an engineering company based in Ipswich, which manufactured cranes. Between 1915 and 1918 Stokes worked for the Inventions Branch of the Ministry of Munitions where he invented the Stokes Mortar.[2] The trench mortar was first used in 1915 during the Battle of Loos to fire a smoke shell. At first it was not liked but as the construction was improved it was widely used and eventually produced in two sizes. This mortar continued in use, its effectiveness being improved again and again by other British engineers.[2]
Stokes received a knighthood in 1917[3] for inventing the mortar which was named for him. He was also given several forms of monetary reward by the Ministry of Munitions for his invention including royalties of £1[dubious – discuss] per Stokes mortar bomb.
^"Wilfrid Stokes". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/36312. Retrieved 14 February 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ abcdef "Sir Wilfred Stokes – Inventor of a famous trench mortar". Obituaries. The Times. No. 44500. London. 8 February 1927. col D, p. 7.
wilfred, stokes, frederick, wilfrid, scott, stokes, april, 1860, february, 1927, inventor, 1915, stokes, mortar, which, extensive, latter, half, first, world, first, truly, portable, mortars, sirwilfrid, stokeskbestokes, with, mortars, 1916, 1918, born, 1860, . Sir Frederick Wilfrid Scott Stokes KBE 9 April 1860 7 February 1927 1 was the inventor in 1915 of the Stokes Mortar which saw extensive use in the latter half of the First World War and was one of the first truly portable mortars SirWilfrid StokesKBEStokes with one of his Mortars 1916 1918 Born 1860 04 09 9 April 1860Liverpool EnglandDied7 February 1927 1927 02 07 aged 66 Ruthin WalesNationalityBritishAlma materCatholic University College KensingtonOccupationCivil EngineerKnown forInventing the Stokes MortarSpouseIren IonidesRelativesRichard Stokes nephewStokes was born on 9 April 1860 in Liverpool the son of Scott Nasmyth Stokes a school inspector 2 He was educated at St Francis Xavier s College and the Catholic University College Kensington 2 Following an apprenticeship with the Great Western Railway he eventually became an assistant to William Shelford working on the designs for bridges for the Hull and Barnsley Railway 2 A civil engineer by trade Stokes was appointed chairman and managing director of Ransomes amp Rapier an engineering company based in Ipswich which manufactured cranes Between 1915 and 1918 Stokes worked for the Inventions Branch of the Ministry of Munitions where he invented the Stokes Mortar 2 The trench mortar was first used in 1915 during the Battle of Loos to fire a smoke shell At first it was not liked but as the construction was improved it was widely used and eventually produced in two sizes This mortar continued in use its effectiveness being improved again and again by other British engineers 2 Stokes received a knighthood in 1917 3 for inventing the mortar which was named for him He was also given several forms of monetary reward by the Ministry of Munitions for his invention including royalties of 1 dubious discuss per Stokes mortar bomb St Mary Magdalen MortlakeStokes married Iren Ionides in 1899 2 He is buried at St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church Mortlake His brother Leonard Stokes was an architect His nephew Richard Stokes was a Labour MP and minister See also editStokes MortarReferences edit Wilfrid Stokes Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press 2004 doi 10 1093 ref odnb 36312 Retrieved 14 February 2016 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b c d e f Sir Wilfred Stokes Inventor of a famous trench mortar Obituaries The Times No 44500 London 8 February 1927 col D p 7 No 30250 The London Gazette Supplement 24 August 1917 p 8795 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wilfred Stokes nbsp This article about a British scientist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This World War I article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilfred Stokes amp oldid 1143974112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
