John Watson Gibson
Encyclopedia
Sir
John Watson Gibson (1885–1947) was an English
civil engineer
, key in developing the water supply infrastructure in the former British Empire
, and instrumental in the design of Mulberry Harbour
used in the Normandy landings.
and educated at the Middlesbrough School for Boys
. He apprenticed at S. Pearson & Son, assisting while there in the building of new concrete jetties at the docks in Southampton
, Fenit for access to Tralee in Ireland
, and the new King George Dock in Kingston upon Hull
.
on the Western front
. Hence loaned by them to the Ministry of Munitions, in 1916 he went to the United States
as Director General of shell and gun supply. Returning to the UK in 1917, he became controller of Aircraft Requirements and Review. For his services to his country, Gibson was granted an OBE in 1918.
. While working on the construction of the Queen Mary Reservoir
at Staines
(the largest water storage reservoir in the world at that time), he bought Stanwell Place
(90 acres), and the adjoining Stanhope farm (261 acres, including Hammonds farm). In 1936 the Metropolitan Water Board bought most of Gibson's estate, in a contract encompassing 346 acre. It used this land in 1947 on which to develop the King George VI Reservoir
.
Following work on the Sennar Dam
, he entered into partnership in 1933 with Pauling & Co.
, forming Gibson and Pauling (Foreign) Ltd. in 1933 to build the Jebel Aulia Dam
on the White Nile
in Sudan
, which was the largest dam in the world at that time. On the successful completion of the Gebel Aulia Dam, Gibson became managing director of Pauling & Co., a position he held until his death in March 1947.
, Gibson offered his services as an engineer to his country. Throughout the war, his family moved into the country, allowing Gibson to lend Stanwell Place to the United States Army High Command. It was later used for two high level meetings of the Supreme Allied Command
of General Dwight D. Eisenhower
held in late June and the middle of July 1944, with attendees including Henry Stimson, George Marshall
, and Admiral Ernest King
.
After the agreement to proceed with a design for the Mulberry harbours which facilitated the Normandy Landings in 1943/44, Gibson created the detailed design for the Phoenix breakwater
units.
, two prototype steel framed prefab houses. Eventually over 30,000 BISF houses were built to house families made homeless by the war action.
Buried in Stanwell Cemetery, the grave also contains the remains of his wife Lady Lillian Gibson.
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
John Watson Gibson (1885–1947) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, key in developing the water supply infrastructure in the former British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, and instrumental in the design of Mulberry Harbour
Mulberry harbour
A Mulberry harbour was a British type of temporary harbour developed in World War II to offload cargo on the beaches during the Allied invasion of Normandy....
used in the Normandy landings.
Early life and career
Born in 1885 in MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
and educated at the Middlesbrough School for Boys
Middlesbrough College
Middlesbrough College, located on one campus at Middlehaven, Middlesbrough, England, in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, is the largest college in the Tees Valley.-Admissions:...
. He apprenticed at S. Pearson & Son, assisting while there in the building of new concrete jetties at the docks in Southampton
Port of Southampton
The Port of Southampton is a major passenger and cargo port located in the central part of the south coast of England. It benefits from shelter provided by the Isle of Wight and Southampton Water, unique "double tides" and close proximity to the motorway and rail networks...
, Fenit for access to Tralee in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and the new King George Dock in Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
.
World War I
Designated an essential skill, he was refused permission to join his local troop of the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
on the Western front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. Hence loaned by them to the Ministry of Munitions, in 1916 he went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as Director General of shell and gun supply. Returning to the UK in 1917, he became controller of Aircraft Requirements and Review. For his services to his country, Gibson was granted an OBE in 1918.
1918–1939
After the war he specialised in reservoirs and water supplyWater supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
. While working on the construction of the Queen Mary Reservoir
Queen Mary Reservoir
The Queen Mary Reservoir is one of the largest of London's reservoirs located in the Staines/Sunbury area of West London within the borough of Spelthorne in Surrey. It lies south of the A308 and west of the M3 motorway...
at Staines
Staines
Staines is a Thames-side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and Greater London Urban Area, as well as the London Commuter Belt of South East England. It is a suburban development within the western bounds of the M25 motorway and located 17 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in...
(the largest water storage reservoir in the world at that time), he bought Stanwell Place
Stanwell Place
Stanwell Place was a manor house and associated estate and tenant farms, located to the west of the village of Stanwell, Middlesex. Built from the 17th century, during the early part of the 20th century it was sold off to create a reservoir and series of local small holdings.The manor house was...
(90 acres), and the adjoining Stanhope farm (261 acres, including Hammonds farm). In 1936 the Metropolitan Water Board bought most of Gibson's estate, in a contract encompassing 346 acre. It used this land in 1947 on which to develop the King George VI Reservoir
King George VI Reservoir
The King George VI Reservoir in England lies to the south of Stanwellmoor near Stanwell and Heathrow. The reservoir was opened in November 1947 and named after the then reigning monarch King George VI. It is owned by Thames Water....
.
Following work on the Sennar Dam
Sennar Dam
The Sennar Dam is a dam on the Blue Nile near the town of Sennar, Sudan. It was built in 1925 by the British engineer, desert explorer and adventurer, Stephen "Roy" Sherlock, under the direction of Weetman Pearson. The dam is 3025 meters long, with a maximum height of 40 meters . It provides...
, he entered into partnership in 1933 with Pauling & Co.
Pauling & Co.
Pauling & Co. was a major British civil engineering contractor renowned chiefly for building the railways of Southern Africa. .-History:Pauling & Co. was founded by George Craig Sanders Pauling in 1894...
, forming Gibson and Pauling (Foreign) Ltd. in 1933 to build the Jebel Aulia Dam
Jebel Aulia Dam
The Jebel Aulia Dam is a dam on the White Nile near the capital of Sudan, Khartoum.Following completion of his work on the Sennar Dam, civil engineer John Watson Gibson entered into partnership in 1933 with Pauling & Co., forming Gibson and Pauling Ltd. in 1933 to build the dam, the largest dam in...
on the White Nile
White Nile
The White Nile is a river of Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile from Egypt, the other being the Blue Nile. In the strict meaning, "White Nile" refers to the river formed at Lake No at the confluence of the Bahr al Jabal and Bahr el Ghazal rivers...
in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, which was the largest dam in the world at that time. On the successful completion of the Gebel Aulia Dam, Gibson became managing director of Pauling & Co., a position he held until his death in March 1947.
World War II
At the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Gibson offered his services as an engineer to his country. Throughout the war, his family moved into the country, allowing Gibson to lend Stanwell Place to the United States Army High Command. It was later used for two high level meetings of the Supreme Allied Command
Supreme Allied Commander
Supreme Allied Commander is the title held by the most senior commander within certain multinational military alliances. It originated as a term used by the Western Allies during World War II, and is currently used only within NATO. Dwight Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary...
of General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
held in late June and the middle of July 1944, with attendees including Henry Stimson, George Marshall
George Marshall
George Catlett Marshall was an American military leader, Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of State, and the third Secretary of Defense...
, and Admiral Ernest King
Ernest King
Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King was Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations during World War II. As COMINCH, he directed the United States Navy's operations, planning, and administration and was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the U.S...
.
After the agreement to proceed with a design for the Mulberry harbours which facilitated the Normandy Landings in 1943/44, Gibson created the detailed design for the Phoenix breakwater
Breakwater
Breakwater may refer to:* Breakwater , a structure for protecting a beach or harbour* Breakwater, Victoria, a suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia* Breakwater , a funk and soul band from the 1970s...
units.
Post-War career
Gibson decided due to his age to change his professional focus, designing in collaboration with the British Iron and Steel FederationBritish Iron and Steel Federation
The British Iron and Steel Federation, formed in 1934, was an organization of British iron and steel producers responsible for the national planning of steel production. Its creation was imposed on the industry by Ramsay MacDonald's National Government as a precondition to the establishment of...
, two prototype steel framed prefab houses. Eventually over 30,000 BISF houses were built to house families made homeless by the war action.
Death and burial
Gibson died aged 61 in 1947. In 1948 his estate sold Stanwell Place with its residual 22 acres to the King of Iraq, to whom it still belonged in 1956; his sons still owned the residual 17 acres of Stanhope farm.Buried in Stanwell Cemetery, the grave also contains the remains of his wife Lady Lillian Gibson.