Wilfred Stokes
Encyclopedia
Sir Frederick Wilfred Scott Stokes KBE
(9 April 1860 – 7 February 1927) 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
.
Stokes was born on 9 April 1860 in Liverpool the son of Scott Nasmyth Stokes a school inspector. He was educated at St. Francis Xavier's College
and the Catholic University College in Kensingston.
Following an apprenticeship with the Great Western Railway he was later an assistant to Sir William Shelford working on the designs for bridges for the Hull and Barnsley Railway.
A civil engineer
by trade, Stokes was Chairman and Managing Director of Ransomes & Rapier, an engineering company based in Ipswich
and which manufactured cranes
. Between 1915 and 1918 Stokes worked for the Inventions Branch of the Ministry of Munitions where he invented the Stokes Mortar
. 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 produced in two sizes.
As well as receiving a knighthood in 1917 for inventing the mortar which was named for him, Stokes was given several forms of monetary reward by the Ministry of Munitions for his invention including royalties
of £1 per Stokes mortar bomb.
Stokes married Iren Ionides in 1899.
His nephew Richard Stokes
was a Labour MP and minister.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(9 April 1860 – 7 February 1927) was the inventor in 1915 of the Stokes Mortar
Stokes Mortar
The Stokes mortar was a British trench mortar invented by Sir Wilfred Stokes KBE which was issued to the British Army and the Commonwealth armies during the latter half of the First World War.-History:...
, which saw extensive use in the latter half of the First World War and was one of the first truly portable mortars
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
.
Stokes was born on 9 April 1860 in Liverpool the son of Scott Nasmyth Stokes a school inspector. He was educated at St. Francis Xavier's College
St. Francis Xavier's College (Liverpool)
St. Francis Xavier's College is a Roman Catholic secondary school and sixth form college located in Woolton, Liverpool, England. Year 7 to Year 11 are male only, whereas the Sixth Form are coeducational....
and the Catholic University College in Kensingston.
Following an apprenticeship with the Great Western Railway he was later an assistant to Sir William Shelford working on the designs for bridges for the Hull and Barnsley Railway.
A 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...
by trade, Stokes was Chairman and Managing Director of Ransomes & Rapier, an engineering company based in Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
and which manufactured cranes
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
. Between 1915 and 1918 Stokes worked for the Inventions Branch of the Ministry of Munitions where he invented the Stokes Mortar
Stokes Mortar
The Stokes mortar was a British trench mortar invented by Sir Wilfred Stokes KBE which was issued to the British Army and the Commonwealth armies during the latter half of the First World War.-History:...
. 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 produced in two sizes.
As well as receiving a knighthood in 1917 for inventing the mortar which was named for him, Stokes was given several forms of monetary reward by the Ministry of Munitions for his invention including royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
of £1 per Stokes mortar bomb.
Stokes married Iren Ionides in 1899.
His nephew Richard Stokes
Richard Stokes
Major Sir Richard Rapier Stokes MC was a British Labour politician who served briefly as Lord Privy Seal in 1951....
was a Labour MP and minister.