William John Burley died at Truro on June 28th, 1916, aged 46 years.
He took up mining comparatively late-in life, and obtained his first post in 1906, when he went to West Africa as sampler and assayer to the Tarkwa and Abosso Gold Mining Co., Ltd.; and during the first half of 1907 he was employed by the Abosso Gold Mining Co., Ltd., in the same capacity.
Returning to England early in 1908, Mr. Burley entered Henderson’s Mining School at Truro as a student, and devoted several months to the study of mine surveying. In April, 1909, he returned to his old post with the Abosso Gold Mining Co., and after a few months was transferred to a similar position with the Taquah Mining and Exploration Co., Ltd. In 1910 he acted as surveyor and assistant manager to the Tarkwa Banket West, Ltd., and then, after a few months’ vacation, he rejoined the Taquah Mining and Exploration Co. in 1912. He held an appointment with this company as assayer and reduction officer until May, 1915, when he returned to England and resided at Newquay until shortly before his death.
Mr. Burley was admitted to Studentship of the Institution in 1908, and transferred to Associateship in 1915.
Vol. 26, Trans I.M.M. 1916-17, p. 261
