Ralph Argyle Anderson died at Perth, Western Australia, on July 14th, 1932, after a long and somewhat painful illness, at the age of 52.
Australian by birth, he began his mining career at the bottom of the ladder as timberman and engine-driver in 1896, and for ten years steadily improved his status until in 1906 he was appointed mine surveyor, accountant and assayer to the Flag Gold Mining Co., Ltd., a position he held for six years, the last two years as legal and general manager also.
In 1912 he became associated with the firm of Bewick, Moreing & Co., and worked in various capacities on some of their leading mines. After four years of service with the Australian troops in France from 1916 to 1919, he returned to Western Australia to work on the Surprise lead mines at Galena for about six years, the last 3½ years of the period as general manager. He was then successively general manager of the Two Boys and Tarcoola Blocks lead mines, and of the Brilliant gold mines, and in December, 1930, was appointed underground manager of the Lake View & Star Gold Mines, Ltd. His health began to fail, but despite a malady which caused 18 months of acute suffering he worked on, building up an organisation to mine and haul 30,000 tons of ore per month.
Mr Anderson was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1932.
Vol. 42, Trans IMM 1932-33, p.608-9
