George Bargate died on 12th March, 1951, in a motor accident in South Africa, at the age of 75.
He was apprenticed in 1892 to Messrs. Clarke, Chapman & Co., Ltd., Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, of Gateshead, and on completing his articles joined the staff of the firm. From 1900 until 1904 he was an assistant engineer with the Newcastle and Gateshead Water Co.
He began his mining career in March, 1904, when he took charge of the iron mines of Minerals, Ltd., in the Province of Alemtajo, Portugal. He spent the early part of 1905 inspecting mines in Cornwall, and in September of that year was appointed by Horse Burrow Mines Syndicate, Ltd., to unwater a tin and Wolfram mine, which he subsequently managed until 1907, at the same time holding the appointment of manager of the Great Dowgas Tin Mines, Ltd., until 1911.
Mr. Bargate served in H.M. Forces from the outbreak of war in 1914, first in the Royal Engineers and later in the Tank Corps. Owing to wounds he was seconded to take charge of a factory for the construction of infantry carriers.
Mr. Bargate worked at Dolcoath Mine, Ltd. in 1919, and acted as manager from 1921 to 1922. In that year he was appointed general manager of Central European Mines, Ltd., in Yugoslavia, and held this position for 17 years until 1939.
He worked for Messrs. Bewick, Moreing & Co., Ltd., in Johannesburg until July, 1946, when he retired and went to live at the Cape. Later he set up in practice as a consultant, and was consulting engineer to South Witbank Coal Mines, Ltd., at the time of his death.
Mr. Bargate was elected to Membership of the Institution in 1910.
Vol. 61, Trans I.M.M. 1951-52, p. 307
