James Anthony Bridge (1887 - 1957)

Born 1887 in Footscray, Victoria, Australia

Husband of Jessie Louise (Anderson) Bridge — married 1912 in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 21 Sep 1957 at about age 70 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

James was born in 1887 in Footscray, VIC, the son of John Bridge and his wife Christina, nee Morrison.

He became engaged to Jessie Anderson in Jul 1911^[1] and they married at the Wesley Church, Fremantle, Western Australia on 16 Oct 1912.^[2]

James was an oxy-acetylene specialist and aeroplane fitter.

From about 1903 he had served an apprenticeship with Tucker & Thomsons of Fremantle, W.A. as a sheet, iron and steel worker and then became a partner in the firm. He later became the full owner. After 6 years, in around 1914, he went to England and studied oxy-acetylene cutting and welding in all metals. He then went to work for Short Bros. Aeronautical Engineers in Rochester, England for 3 months in 1915, working on seaplanes and aeroplanes for the British Admiralty.

After returning to Western Australia in 1915 he went to work for the State Implement Works in Western Australia as an oxy-acetylene welder. He was exempt from Military Service as his services were required by the State Implement Works.

On 26 Aug 1916 he applied to become an Australian Munitions Worker under a joint Australian government/ British government scheme to supply skilled workers for the War effort in the UK.

James then applied to enlist in the Australian Army in Perth, Western Australia on 16 Sep 1916, hoping to join the Flying Corps. At the time he was 5 ft 4 &1/2 in tall and living in Fremantle. In any case, he was deferred when his medical examination showed a heart murmur.

His application to become a munitions worker was accepted and his agreement was signed on 28 Sep 1916. He was issued with Australian Munitions Worker Badge No. 64 and embarked on the SS "Osterley" from Fremantle, W.A. on 03 Oct 1916, arriving at Tilbury, England on 10 Nov 1916.

He commenced work at William Beardmore Aviation Department in Dalmuir, Scotland as a sheet iron worker on 20 Nov 1916. He was very unhappy with the conditions, poor equipment and pay and asked to be moved to Short Bros. in Rochester. It seems little was done apart from acknowledging his request. Overtime was stopped at Beardmore in Jan 1917, so he took matters into his own hands and presented a letter from a foreman at Short Bros saying there was work there for him as a fitter, and later produced a medical certificate saying he needed to be moved for medical reasons. He commenced at Short Bros. Seaplane Works in Rochester as an aeroplane fitter on 07 Mar 1917.

By Jun 1917 he was disenchanted with Short Bros. due to low wages and requested a move to the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich where wages were higher. He stated his past 3 weeks wages ranged from 2 Pounds to 2 Pounds 16 Shillings. Because he'd been moved to Short Bros. at his own request, his move would not be permitted without a medical certificate. A medical certificate was promptly supplied and he commenced at Nieuport General Aviation Co. as a fitter on 02 Jul 1917.

He advised he wished to enlist in the Flying Corps as an aeroplane mechanic in Apr 1918 as he was suffering poor health from working indoors so much. Nothing came of this.

Following the Armistice James requested an early return to Australia due to domestic problems that required either himself or his brother in the AIF to attend to. He returned to Australia on the SS "Thongwa", departing on 10 Jan 1919 and disembarking in Fremantle, W.A. on 24 Feb 1919. His agreement was terminated the same day as complete.

James was in partnership with Arthur Wilson, operating as Bridge & Wilson Ltd. of Murray St, Perth from about 1931 producing water heaters, plumbing supplies and general sheet metal products. James was a company director.

In 1935 he and Arthur Wilson registered a design for a wood chip water heater.^[3] They registered another design for a water heater in 1937.^[4]

He and Arthur Wilson and John Samuel Bridge incorporated Jason Industries Ltd in Oct 1937 and took over the business of Bridge & Wilson.^[5] James was Governing Director. The company expanded into aluminium kitchen and table ware and in 1946, a subsidiary company, Jason Metal Furniture Ltd was incorporated with the role of manufacturing tubular furniture.

In 1946 he was sued for slander by a foreman engineer.^[6]

In 1948 Jason Industries issued a share Prospectus to raise 100,000 Pounds as 1 Pound shares. By that stage the company had a register Branch office in Sydney.^[7] An abridged Prospectus was issued in 1951.^[8] At that time he was still Governing Director and lived at Gosnells, W.A.

He died in Perth in 1957.

Sources

1. ↑ ENGAGEMENTS. (1911, July 22). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), p. 55. Retrieved June 28, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88690659
2. ↑ Marriage Notice - "Family Notices" The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) 16 November 1912: 1. Web. 28 Jun 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26526397>.
3. ↑ Applications for Registration of a Design - National Archives of Australia - Application for registration of a design by James Anthony Bridge and Arthur Terence Wilson for Kerosene heater for chip bath heaters - Class 1 (paper file); Location: Canberra - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=9789384
4. ↑ Applications for Registration of a Design - National Archives of Australia - Application for registration of a design by James Anthony Bridge & Arthur Terence Wilson for Bath heater with super heater - Class 1 (paper file); Location: Canberra - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=9800027
5. ↑ "REGISTERED COMPANIES." The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) 16 October 1937: 14. Web. 28 Jun 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41440191>.
6. ↑ "Libel, Slander Alleged" The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950) 6 July 1946: 10 (FIRST EDITION). Web. 28 Jun 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77819456>.
7. ↑ Advertising (1948, October 23). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 21 (1st EDITION). Retrieved June 28, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47137566
8. ↑ Advertising (1951, March 10). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 14. Retrieved June 28, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48187421

• Birth - Victoria BDM Birth index - Event: births; Registration number: 11234 / 1887; Family name: BRIDGE; Given name(s): James Anthony; Place of event: FOOT, Australia; Personal detail Mother's name: Christin; Mother's family name at birth: MORRISON; Father's Name: John

• Marriage - Western Australia BDM Marriage index - Bridge James A; Male; Anderson Jessie L; Female; Fremantle; 209; 1912

• WW1 Australian Army Enlistment Application - National Archives of Australia - Bridge, James Anthony; age 29; address - Fremantle - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6531496

• WW1 Australian Munitions Worker Service File - National Archives of Australia - BRIDGE James Anthony - Munitions Worker Number 64 - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6448033

• Death - Western Australia BDM Death index - Bridge James Anthony; Male; 70; John; Christina; Perth; 2439; 1957

• Burial/Memorial - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213690720/james-anthony-bridge