William Whittingdale, surveyor, was the son of John Whittingdale and his wife Ann Webb. He was educated at Colse's Grammar School, London. In 1902 he came to South Africa to work as a (human) computer at the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, in Cape Town. In 1904 he passed the Survey Certificate examination of the University of the Cape of Good Hope. He became an established computer in August 1907 and was much impressed by the director of the observatory, Dr David Gill*, for whom he retained an admiration and esteem throughout his life. Later in his career he published "Reminiscences of Sir David Gill" in the Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of South Africa (1943). During his nine years at the observatory he was initially employed on the computations of the geodetic surveys of South West Africa (now Namibia) and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Later he was put in charge of the Geodetic Survey Section of the observatory and worked on the computations of the geodetic survey in North East Rhodesia (now Zambia), the chain of triangles connecting the geodetic survey of South Africa in the northern Transvaal with that of Southern Rhodesia, and of the boundary survey between Southern Rhodesia and Mozambique. As co-author with S. S. Hough* he published "Observations of comet 1908c (Morehouse)" in Astronomische Nachrichten (1909).

In 1911 Whittingdale went to the Federated Malay States to work as a government land surveyor. He returned to South Africa in 1917 to take up an appointment as chief draughtsman and computer in the office of the surveyor-general in Cape Town and was promoted to professional assistant in 1920. In 1925 he compiled a comprehensive but unpublished report on mapping in South Africa in which he described a coordinating central mapping office as essential. On 1 April 1927, he was appointed as professional assistant (from November 1928 as first grade professional assistant) in the office of the director of Trigonometrical Survey, W. C. van der Sterr and worked on the computations of the primary triangulation of South Africa, under computer W. Schmidt. During these and subsequent years he published a number of articles in the South African Survey Journal, including "The mapping problem of South Africa" (1924), "Gridded maps" (1924), "The geodetic survey of Canada" (1927), "Surveys in Malaya" (1928), "The trigonometric survey of South Africa" (1929),"Maps and survey in South Africa" (1930), and "The trigonometric survey of the Union" (1938).

After van der Sterr's death Whittingdale was appointed director of Trigonometrical Survey on 19 May 1933, a position he held until his retirement on 8 July 1945. He also replaced van der Sterr as a member of the Joint Committee for Professional Examinations. During his term of office the work of the Trigonometric Survey in geodesy, topographic mapping, cartography and geomagnetism increased substantially, owing in part to his outstanding administrative and organizational skills. During the same period the staff of the Survey increased from 20 to about 250. In 1936 he organized and chaired the interdepartmental Topographical Survey and Mapping Conference in Cape Town, to established needs and plan a systematic mapping programme for South Africa. The result was a recommendation for a 1:50 000 topographical map series with 50 foot contours. In 1937 his efforts led to the establishment of a Geophysical Branch of the Trigonometrical Survey to continue the work of the magnetic observatory at the University of Cape Town. That same year he was in addition appointed as Director of Military Survey with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and served in this position during World War II (1939-1945).

Whittingdale served as a member of the council of the Institute of Land Surveyors of the Cape of Good Hope from 1923 to at least 1927. He was the first editor of the South African Survey Journal, holding that position from 1923 to April 1933. He was interested in astronomy during his entire career and by 1938 was a member of the Astronomical Society of South Africa. After his retirement he lectured in astronomy to students of surveying at the University of Cape Town. Subsequently he started a cadastral practice and carried out many surveys in Simonstown until some two years before his death.

Whittingdale married Helen Frances Twamley in 1911 and they had two sons and a daughter. Their elder son, Harold, was also a surveyor but was killed in action in north Africa during World War II (1939-1945).

List of sources:

FamilySearch: William Whittingdale. https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/GTW3-RH1

Gill, D. A history and description of the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope (Appendix 1). London: HSMO, 1913.

Google scholar. http://scholar.google.co.za/ , publications by W. Whittingdale.

Journal of the Astronomical Society of South Africa, 1938, Vol. 4(3), pp. 135-137, Members and Associates.

Liebenberg, E. C. Die topografiese kartering van Suid-Afrika, 1879-1972; 'n histories-geografiese ontleding. MA-verhandeling in Geografie, Universiteit van Suid-Afrika.

Marsh, F. W. and Menzies, G. H. Requiem to W. Whittingdale. 1. As Director of Trigonometrical Survey, 1933-1945. 2. As Editor of the South African Survey Journal. South African Survey Journal, 1966, Vol. 10(5), pp. 304-308.

National Automated Archival Information Retrieval System (NAAIRS). http://national.archives.gov.za/naairs.htm Documents relating to William Whittingdale / W. Whittingdale.

[Obituary]: Mr William Whittingdale. South African Survey Journal, 1966, Vol. 10, pp. 299-300.

Simpson, K. A history of the South African trigonometrical system. South African Journal of Surveying and Mapping, 1989, Vol. 20(3), pp. 109-119.

South African Survey Journal, 1923-1938, Vol. 1-5, articles by W. Whittingdale; office bearers.

University of the Cape of Good Hope. Calendar, 1917/8, Survey Certificate Examination.

Compiled by: C. Plug

Last updated: 2026-03-10 12:00:05