William Julius Gau died at Johannesburg after a very brief illness, on April 1st, 1936, at the age of 57.
He was educated at St. Andrews College, Grahamstown, Cape Province, and studied at the Royal School of Mines, London, from 1896 to 1899. He then travelled through France, Belgium, and Germany, inspecting mines and smelting works, and in 1901 entered the Government Mines Department, Johannesburg.
In March, 1903, he left Government service to assist Mr. G.A. Troye, M. Inst. M.M., a consulting engineer in Johannesburg, and in 1905 joined the staff of Messrs. Farrar Bros., Johannesburg, consulting mining engineer and geologist, in which position he continued for twelve years.
In 1917 he was appointed consulting engineer to Sir Abe Bailey and the South African Townships, Mining and Finance Corporation Ltd., and maintained his connexion with these interests until his death. Mr. Gau was a member of the Geological Society of South Africa, and was awarded the Draper Medal of the Society in 1907.
He was elected a Student of the Institution in 1898, was transferred to Associateship in 1907, and to Membership in 1928.
Vol. 46, Trans IMM 1936-7, p.820
