William Howard Livens

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Howard Livens
March 28, 1889(1889-03-28) – February 1, 1964 (aged 74)
Image:Replace this image male.svg
Place of death London[1]
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1914–1919
Rank Captain
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Other work Consultant to Petroleum Warfare Department in World War II

William Howard Livens DSO MC (28 March 1889 – 1 February 1964[2][3]) was an engineer, a soldier in the British Army and an inventor particularly known for the invention of chemical warfare and flame warfare weapons.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Livens' parents were Frederick Howard Livens (1854-1948) and Prissie Abbott. They married on 9 October 1886 at the Upton Congregational Church. Frederick Howard Livens was Chief Engineer and later Chairman of Ruston and Hornsby in Lincoln.[3] Frederick and Prissie had three children, William Howard and two younger daughters.

Father and son had a close relationship and collaborated on many projects.

In 1903, Livens was sent to Oundle School, a famous public school located in the ancient market town of Oundle in Northamptonshire, England. While there, he enrolled in the Officer Training Corps (OTC) wherein he served with the rank of sergeant.[4]

On leaving school in 1908, Livens went to Christ's College at the University of Cambridge from 1908 to October 1911. There he enrolled in the college OTC and served with the rank of private[4] and he was captain of the Cambridge rifle team.[5] He was a crack shot with a rifle, making a record score in a competition with a team from Oxford University and also an excellent shot with a pistol.[1]

Livens trained as civil engineer, but when the First World War started, he joined the British Army.[6]

[edit] World War One

On 4 August 1914, on graduating from the Officer Training Corps, Livens applied for a commission in the Royal Engineers.[4] He was enrolled as a Second Lieutenant on 30 September 1914.[7] Livens was given a clerical post in the Motorcycle signalling section at Chatham.[5]

According to his obituary:

“ When he paraded for instruction in revolver shooting the sergeant in charge, not knowing his reputation as a shot, carefully explained to him how to load his weapon and take aim and the details of firing. The supposed tyro was then told to fire 10 rounds at the target and after each shot the sergeant kept repeating sympathetically: "Sorry, Sir, you're not yet on the target". After the 10 shots had been fired Livens mildly suggested a closer look at the target and all 10 shots had hit the inner bull![1] ”

According to Simon Jones' book World War I Gas Warfare Tactics and Equipment, on learning that, apparently, his wife had been killed when the luxury liner RMS Lusitania had been sunk by a German torpedo with the loss of 1,100 passengers and crew, he vowed to kill an equal number of Germans. To this end he began experimenting with gas and flame projectors of various types and continued in his work even after hearing that his wife had not, after all, been on board the Lusitania.[8] This version of events is consistent with family tradition. However, according to Who's Who in World War One by John Bourne, it was the first use of poison gas by the Germans at the Second Battle of Ypres on 22 April 1915 that prompted Livens' vengeful ambitions.[3] This alternative account is consistent with livens later statement that he began work on the projector at the end of April 1915[9] - the Lusitania was sunk in May 1915 - and with the fact that Livens married Elizabth Price in 1916.[1]

Livens began experimenting privately. He fitted out makeshift laboratories at his Chatham barracks bedroom and in the officers' garage. For a firing rage he used vacant land near one of the old forts which overlooked the Thames estuary.[5] Here he worked on developing flame throwers and small mortars to throw oil and gas.[10]

Late in August 1915, Livens left Chatham to enlist in one of the newly formed Royal Engineer Special Gas Companies where he was one of very few members to have a background in engineering rather than chemistry.[5] He was soon in charge of what came to be Z company that was given the responsibility of developing a British version of the German flamethrower that had recently been deployed on the Western Front.[6]

However, flamethrowers proved difficult to perfect.

One day, during an attack on the Somme, Z company came encountered a party of Germans who were well dug in. Grenades did not succeed in shifting them, so Livens improvised a sort of giant Molotov cocktail using two 5 gallon oil drums. When these were thrown into the German positions the effect was so good that Livens' comrade Harry Strange wondered whether it would be better to use containers to flame to the enemy rather than relying on a complex flame thrower.[11][12]

Reflecting on the incident during the battle of the Somme, Livens and Strange considered how a really large shell filled with fuel might be thrown by a mortar.[13] Livens went on to develop a large, but simple, type of mortar that could throw an entire 3 gallon drum of oil which would burst when it landed, spreading burning oil over the target,[6] the weapon became known as the Livens Projector. Livens came to the attention of General Gough who was impressed by his ideas and "wangled" everything that Livens needed for his large projector.[14]

On the 25 July 1916 at Ovillers-la-Boisselle during the Battle of the Somme, Z Company used 80 projectors when the Australians were due to attack Posieres. The early versions had a short range and it was necessary to place the projectors 200 yards out in no-man's-land. The resulting barrage was highly successful in neutralising the German machine-gun posts.[6]

Z Company rapidly developed the Livens Projector, increasing its range, first to 350 yards and eventually an electrically triggered version with a range of 1,300 yards. This version was successfully used at Messines Ridge in June 1917.[6]

The Livens Projector was then modified to fire canisters of poision gas rather than oil. This system was trialled in secret, at Thiepval in September 1916 and Beaumont-Hamel in November.[6] The Livens Projector was able to deliver a high concentration of gas a considerable distance. Each canister delivered as much gas as several chemical warfare artillery shells and without the need to reload a barrage could be launched quickly, catching the enemy by surprise. Although each projector could be fired just once during an attack, the weapon was sufficiently inexpensive to be deployed in hundreds or even thousands.

The Livens Projector was ideally suited to static trench warfare. Newer versions continued to be developed, maximum range finally reaching 2,800 yards. Its production was given a high priority, the total for the Allies of the Great War eventually exceeded 150,000 units.[6] Livens witnessed some projector attacks from the vantage of an aircraft and was said to have estimated that "...if the projectors were used on a large scale the cost of killing Germans could be reduced to sixteen shillings each."[15]

At the beginning of 1916 and his massive fixed flame projector was used on 1 July 1916 at the battle of the Somme.

Livens also experimented with firing orange boxes filled with explosives from a hold in the ground, the intention being to cut barbed wire.[16]

On 14 January 1916, Livens was awarded the Military Cross.[17]

On 1 January 1918, Livens was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.[18]

Livens was demobilised from the army on 11 April 1919.[4]

[edit] Between the wars

Just before the end of the First World War, Livens wrote a patent for an improved version of his projector.[19] In mid-June 1919, Livens and his father jointly wrote a patent for an improved projectile for the Livens Projector, the principal enhancement being the construction of strong but light-weight casing by using drawn manufacturing technique.[20]

In 1920, Livens applied to the Royal Commission on awards for inventors in respect of his wartime work on flamethrowers and the Livens Projector. He had to wait for a hearing, which was complicated by the fact that his old comrade Harry Strange also made a claim in connection with the invention. The hearing was delayed until 27 May 1922 by which time Livens had agreed that Strange should have a share of the "plunder" from any award that might be obtained.[21] The hearing was detailed and a number of witnesses were called including the recently retired General Gough[22] and Charles Howard Foulkes who was then a colonel.[23]

In 1922 Livens was awarded £500 for his work on flamethrowers and £4,500 for the Livens projector and its ammunition.[24] (A considerable sum, £5,000 in 1922 is equivalent to just over £200,000 in 2007.[25])

In 1924, Livens invented a small dishwasher suitable for use in a domestic setting. It had all the features of a modern dishwasher, including a front door for loading, a wire rack to hold crockery and a rotating sprayer.[26] According to family tradition, Livens built a prototype for the benefit of the family; but when it was tried out by their maidservant, she was later found in tears with water flooding across the floor. At that point the experiment was abandoned!

Livens' wife died in 1934.[1]

[edit] World War Two

At the outbreak of war, Livens was offered the RAF rank of Air Commodore. However, he did not enlist, preferring to make his contribution to the war effort as a civilian - in which role he was free to disagree with his seniors.

In 1940, as a German invasion of Britain threatened, the British developed a number of innovative flame warfare weapons. Livens joined the team of developers working at the newly formed Petroleum Warfare Department under the directorship of Sir Donald Banks. Banks described Livens thus:

“ Colonel Livens was the typical inventor. His equipment as one remembers it was an old club blazer with numerous pockets out of which explosives of all kinds, fuses, wire and gadgets would emerge and hey presto! the most surprising detonation would occur in disconcerting places.[27] ”

The Petroleum Warfare Department experimented with several proposed systems, including a number suggested by Livens. These included a system resembling his projector to send "flaming comets" onto the landing beaches,[28] but the suggestion with the most promise was the Flame Fougasse and it was widely adopted.[29]

A flame fougasse comprised a 40 gallon light steel drum[30] filled with petroleum mixture and a small, electrically detonated explosive as a propellant charge. The barrel was dug into the roadside with a substantial overburden and camouflaged. When the Ammonal-based propellant charge was detonated, it caused the barrel to rupture and shoot a flame 10 feet (3 m) wide and 30 yards (30 m) long.[31]

Tens of thousands flame fougasse barrels were deployed. Almost all were removed before the end of the war, although, incredibly, a few were missed and their remains have lasted to the present day.[32]

The flame fougasse has remained in army field manuals as a battlefield expedient ever since.

[edit] After World War Two

On 22 July 1947, Livens married Arron Perry at St Paul's Church, Winchmore Hill.[33]

Livens became interest in Spiritualism and he was a honorary vice-president of the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain[1] He was a great friend of Lord Dowding who had similar interests. He attended a number of séances, including on 15 November 1932 witnessing a séance with the famous medium Rudi Schneider, although in this case it was a null result — nothing happened.[34]

Livens was briefly interested in photography. In the 1950s, Livens patented inventions relating to photography.[35][36]

Livens enjoyed sailing small boats and was a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

Livens was at one point an assistant editor for Country Life magazine.[1]

[edit] Livens' army rank

A number of authors credit Livens with the rank of Major[6][37] or Colonel.[38] However, there is no evidence that he ever attained a rank higher than Captain. According to a family tradition, he was the youngest Staff Officer in the British Army and wore the appropriate collar tabs; because these were later only worn by Colonels and above, it seems possible that this distinction in uniform caused some confusion.

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Obituary, by Dr Edward Hindle. The Times newspaper, 5 February 1964 p15 column C.
  2. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 43320, pages 4173–4173, 12 May 1964. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  3. ^ a b c Bourne, 2001, p175.
  4. ^ a b c d Application for commission
  5. ^ a b c d Richter, 1992. p148
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Major William Howard Livens (1889 - 1964). Notable Individuals Of The Great War: # 2. I - L.. The Western Front Association. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
  7. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28920, pages 7776–7776, 30 September 1914. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  8. ^ Jones 2007, p27.
  9. ^ Awards to Inventors, 1922, p5
  10. ^ Awards to Inventors, 1922, p5
  11. ^ Cuddy, 2001, p138.
  12. ^ Awards to Inventors, 1922, p20
  13. ^ Awards to Inventors, 1922, p30
  14. ^ Awards to Inventors, 1922, p51-62
  15. ^ Obituary, by Major-General Foulks. The Times newspaper, 11 February 1964 p15 column A.
  16. ^ Obituary, by Sir Harold Hartley. The Times newspaper, 6 February 1964 p14 column F.
  17. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29438, pages 588–588, 14 January 1916. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  18. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30450, pages 23–23, 1 January 1918. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  19. ^ William Howard Livens (1920-03-30). Mortar. US1303079. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  20. ^ William Howard Livens (1920-03-30). Gas-projectile. US1335343. UK Intellectual Property Office. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
  21. ^ Awards to Inventors, 1922, p3
  22. ^ Awards to Inventors, 1922, p51-62
  23. ^ Awards to Inventors, 1922, p63-88
  24. ^ National Archive, T 173/330 - Royal Commission on awards to inventors - Livens
  25. ^ Inflation Calculator. Bank of England. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  26. ^ William Howard Livens (1924-10-23). Improvements in apparatus for washing household crockery and the like. FR579765. UK Intellectual Property Office. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
  27. ^ Banks, 1947, p33.
  28. ^ Banks, 1947, p33.
  29. ^ Banks, 1947, p18.
  30. ^ Although the standard capacity is 44 imperial gallons, historical records generally refer to 40-gallon drums.
  31. ^ Barrel Flame Traps, 1942.
  32. ^ Adrian Armishaw. Flame Fougasse (surviving remains). Pillbox Study Group. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  33. ^ Marriages. The Times newspaper, 23 July 1947, page 1 column A.
  34. ^ (1932-33). Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research 41: p313. 
  35. ^ William Howard Livens (1950-09-12). Camera having movable roll film body parts for taking different size exposures. US2522387. UK Intellectual Property Office. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
  36. ^ William Howard Livens (1951-02-13). Photographic Cameras. CA471471. UK Intellectual Property Office. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
  37. ^ Cuddy, 2001, p138.
  38. ^ Banks, 1947, p17.

[edit] General references

[edit] Official documents

  • (1942) Livens Projector M1. United States Department of War. 
  • (January 1940) The Use Of Gas In The Field, Operations: Military Training Pamphlet No. 23. Part V. War Office. 
  • (July 1942) Barrel Flame Traps, Flame Warfare, Military Training Pamphlet No. 53. Part 1. War Office. 
  • (1914) Application For Appointment To A Temporary Commission In The Regular Army For the Period Of The War: William Howard Livens., National Archives WO 339/19021.. War Office. 
  • (29 May 1922) Minutes of Procedings before the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors, National Archives T 173/702. Treasury. 

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME William Howard Livens
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION English soldier and inventor
DATE OF BIRTH 1889
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH 1 February 1964
PLACE OF DEATH