William John Davies was killed in action in Libya in December, 1941, at the age of 38.
He entered University College, Cardiff, in 1920, and obtained a joint University diploma in mining from that College and the Monmouthshire School of Mines, Treforest, passed the City and Guilds Honours Final in surveying, and was awarded a first-class mine manager’s certificate of competency. He subsequently took the degree of B.Sc. at Cardiff University.
After about six years of practical experience in Welsh collieries, he joined the staff of Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd., in 1930, as an explosives engineer and was engaged for two years in coal, lead and anhydrite mining and general quarrying in Great Britain and Ireland.
In 1932 he went to South Africa to take up an appointment in a similar capacity with the African Explosives and Industries, Ltd., which he held until the outbreak of war, when he obtained a commission as Lieutenant in the South African Engineer Corps.
Mr. Davies was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1935.
Vol. 52, Trans IMM 1942-43, p.393
