Born in 1915, Susan Denham Christie (as she was named at birth) grew up in Tynemouth and was homeschooled until the age of 14. Her family had strong ties to naval architecture, with her grandfather founding, and her father heading, the Swan Hunter Group of shipyards. Susan followed in her family’s footsteps, and in 1932, she began studying naval architecture at Durham University, becoming the first woman to graduate with this degree in 1936. Prior to this, in 1932, Auld became the first woman to be a student member of the North East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders.
Susan went on to join the design office of her family’s firm, then Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, becoming one of the few female employees in the shipbuilding industry in the entire country. In 1942, she was described by The Woman Engineer, the newsletter of the Women’s Engineering Society, as ‘the only woman ship designer in the country’.
However, it was during the Second World War that Auld was able to truly demonstrate her expertise, working as a naval architect for the Royal Navy. She was a key member of the team that designed the battleship HMS Anson (launched in 1940) and the aircraft carrier HMS Albion (launched in 1947). She also helped to design the floating vessels used during the D-Day landings, when Allied troops landed en masse at Normandy in June 1944—one of the greatest displays of Allied and military strength during the war.
After the war, Susan continued working as a naval architect, focusing mainly on commercial and cargo shipbuilding. She was instrumental in the design of the Leda, a ship that connected Tyneside and Norway. She married John Gwynne Auld in 1952 and gave up her career after her marriage, though she continued to write for The Shipyard magazine, which was produced by her former company. She passed away in Newcastle in 2002.
Susan was a trailblazer in naval engineering, becoming a role model for women everywhere by showing that women can thrive in male-dominated industries and make a significant impact. Her ship designs directly contributed to the war effort, particularly through her involvement in the D-Day operation, which recently celebrated its 80th anniversary. She was truly inspirational, and her work continues to influence the field. It is fitting that a blue plaque has been placed at her home in Tynemouth, commemorating Susan Mary Auld, the first female naval architect, who helped shape the history of Tyneside forever.
-Ruby
Work experience student, The Common Room
