Ivan Hirst
| Ivan Hirst | |
|---|---|
| Born |
4 March 1916 Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 10 March 2000 (aged 84) |
| Resting place | Saddleworth, Greater Manchester, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Citizenship | British |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Known for | post-World War II revival of Volkswagen |
| Spouse(s) | Marjorie Pilkington Hirst (died 21 February 1992) |
| Parent(s) | Fred and Florence Hirst |
Major Ivan Hirst (4 March 1916 – 10 March 2000), was a British Army officer and engineer who was instrumental in reviving Volkswagen from a single factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, into a major postwar automotive manufacturer.
Hirst was born in Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England and attended Hulme Grammar School in Oldham. His family had founded the Hirst Brothers Company, a manufacturer of watches, clocks and optical components in Oldham. He studied optical engineering at the University of Manchester, prior to forming his own company repairing optical instruments. While a student he was a member of the university's Officers' Training Corps contingent.
Hirst was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment (Territorial Army) on 27 June 1934, and promoted to lieutenant three years later. A Captain on the outbreak of the Second World War, he was appointed adjutant on 1 October 1939. He transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) as a Mechanical Engineering Officer on 14 November 1941, and to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) on its formation on 1 October 1942.
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