Robert Campbell died in Durban on 7th January, 1953, at the age of 71.
He was born in Scotland, and except for a short period his professional career was entirely connected with collieries. He began work at a large coal mine in Scotland in 1899 and at the same time studied mining until he obtained the Mine Manager’s Certificate at Edinburgh in 1903. He was an under manager in the employ of the Fife Coal Co. in 1903-4, and spent the two following years in the Transvaal gaining underground experience in gold mines.
He took up the position of under manager at Natal Navigation Collieries in 1906, in 1907 becoming manager of Ramsay Collieries, holding this post until 1911 and again from 1912 to 1915.
During the period 1911-1912 he studied metallurgy at the Royal School of Mines, London. He was made general manager of the Natal Navigation group in 1915 and retained this position until he was appointed general mines manager and more recently managing director (technical) to the group, a post that he held until his death.
Mr. Campbell was chairman of the Natal Mine Managers Association, a member of the Natal Coal-Owners Society and chairman of the Natal Coal-Owners Native Labour Association. He was elected to Associate Membership of the Institution in 1912.
Vol. 63, Trans I.M.M. 1953-4, p. 43
