Stokes, (Frederick) Wilfrid (1860–1927)

British engineer. He superintended the erection of sluices on the Manchester Ship Canal, and introduced improvements in sluices, cranes, and refrigerators. He invented, in 1915, the Stokes Gun, or trench mortar; this was a tube entirely closed at the breech, and fitted with a fixed internal striker that ignites the detonator cap to fire the propellent charge, when the projectile is dropped down the mortar tube.

Stokes was born in Liverpool, England. He was educated at St Francis Xavier's, Liverpool, and the Catholic University College, Kensington. He was chief assistant in the London office of Ransomes & Rapier Limited, and later chairman and managing director.