John Mervyn Dallas Wrench CIE (15 September 1883 – 31 August 1961) was Chief Engineer of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway and later Chief Controller of Standards of the Railway Board of India from 1929 to 1940.[1][2][3][4] Also known as J. M. D. Wrench, he was made CIE in 1929.[5]
John Mervyn Dallas Wrench | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 15 September 1883 |
| Died | 31 August 1961 |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Bedford Modern School |
Life
editJohn Mervyn Dallas Wrench was born in Punjab, India, on 15 September 1883.[6] He was the son of John Mervyn Wrench and Fanny Julia van Zuylen van Nyevelt de Gaesebeke.[7] Wrench was educated in England at Bedford Modern School.[8]
Wrench entered the Indian State Railway Service in 1906 and steadily rose through the ranks.[1] During World War I he served in Mesopotamia from 1917 to 1919 attaining the rank of Major.[1] After the War he was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the Indian State Railways in 1921.[8]
Wrench was made Chief Engineer of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway in 1923 and was later appointed Chief Controller of Standards of the Railway Board of India, a position he held between 1929 and 1940.[1] He was made CIE in 1929.[5]
Wrench married Elise Mackenzie-Hughes in 1908 with whom he had four daughters.[1] He died on 31 August 1961 at Sherborne St John, England.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Obituary in The Times, MR. J. M. D. WRENCH, September 2, 1961, p.10
- ^ "Wrench, John Mervyn Dallas, (1883–31 Aug. 1961), Chief Controller of Standards, Railway Bd, India, 1929–40". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U58688. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1.
- ^ Reed, Sir Stanley (12 July 1939). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". Bennett, Coleman & Company – via Google Books.
- ^ "Locomotive, Railway Carriage and Wagon Review". Locomotive Publishing Company. 12 July 1926 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Supplement to The London Gazette, 1 March 1929, Issue 33472, p. 1438
- ^ India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947
- ^ a b "MAJ John Mervyn Dallas "Jack" Wrench (1883-1961) -..." www.findagrave.com.
- ^ a b "Story: Bedford Modern School short obituary for J M D Wrench, CIE died 1961 | Lives of the First World War". livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk.