From The Counties' Who's Who Series - Lancashire (1917):
BRUCE, William Joseph Willett, M.LN.A., Superintendent Engineer. " Eden Vale," Breeze Hill, Bootle, Liverpool. Office : Oceanic Chambers,
Canada Dock, Liverpool. 'Phone : No. 286 Bootle and No. 1160 Bootle. Telegrams : " Soundings Liverpool." Born : December 1st, 1861, at Liverpool ; second son of Alexander and Martha Bruce, of Aberdeen, and East
Donyland, Colchester. Educated : Liverpool Private Academies, Married : December 10th, 1891, to Ellen D'Arcy, third daughter of James and
Ellen D'Arcy, of Wexford, and has issue one daughter, Ellen Leonie Bruce.
Occupation : Superintendent Engineer for White Star, Dominion and American
Lines (last mentioned Liverpool service only). Appointments : Past-President,
Liverpool Engineering Society ; Vice-President, Institute of Marine Engineers,
London ; Member of Institute of Naval Architects. Recreations : Golf and
motoring. Clubs : Bootle Conservative, West Lancashire Golf, Blundellsands.
Career : Commenced apprenticeship at the White Star Engineering Works,
Bootle, in 1876 ; after remaining there for about a year, was transferred
to Messrs. George Forrester and Co., Vauxhall Foundry, Liverpool.
After serving the last four years of apprenticeship, began what was
to prove a brilliant and uninterrupted connection with the White
Star Line, by joining the shore staff at the latter end of 1881. In
1886, at the age of twenty-four, took certificate as chief engineer, and five years later, in 1891, became chief engineer on the S.S. Cufic. In 1895 the
White Star appointed Mr. Bruce to the vacant post of Assistant Superintendent
Engineer. There were no fewer than four hundred applicants to choose
from, and the fact of Mr. Willett Bruce beating so many and excellent candidates is a testimony to his worth. In September, 1904, he became Superintendent Engineer in succession to Mr. S. G. Horsburgh. Mr. Bruce was now
in a position of vast responsibility, but his scope was destined even to greater
extensions. Early in 1911, to his duties as Superintendent of the White Star
Line, were added those of Superintendent to the American and Dominion
Line. He therefore, to-day, superintends all machinery, etc., of a fleet which,
for tonnage and indicated horse-power, is one of the very largest in the world. Retired Chief Engineer, Royal Naval Reserve ; fifteen years on active list, ten years on retired list ; but eligible until fifty-five years of age for active
service if called out for a case of emergency. Mr. W. Bruce is not without
fame as an inventor, and one type of whistle operator he brought out was an
enormous success. He has also invented a silent blow-off, to help to prevent
the objectionable noise in the head of the waste-steam pipe when the ship
suddenly slows down.
Per probate records, Mr Bruce died on 30 September 1953.
Col Granville John Berney Duff was a great-grandson of General Sir James DUFF (c.1755 - 5 XII 1839), MP for Banffshire 1784-89, who was himself an illegitimate son of the 2nd Earl Fife. Another of Col Duff's great-grandfathers was Sir George Beeston PRESCOTT, 2nd Bt (11 II 1775 - 25 X 1840). It seems that Col Duff's wife's second christian name was Mary, rather than Madeline. Her first husband (married 14 VI 1910), William Dering Earle BULWER (19 VIII 1856 - 15 XI 1915) was of that family, for whom see Long (formerly Bulwer) of Heydon in the 1952 edition of Burke's Landed Gentry. She was the eldest daughter of Lt-Col William Wilson PETRIE (1853 - 22 II 1919) by his first wife (married 7 VI 1883), Mary RAVENSCROFT (c.1858/9 - 10 V 1914). Mr Petrie was married, secondly, in 1917, to Edith ANDREWS (c.1865 - 16 XII 1933).
