James Gordon McKinley was killed on June 2nd, 1915, by a shell explosion at the Front, whilst serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps. He was 31 years of age and had held his commission since the early stages of the War.
After studying mining engineering for two years at Melbourne University, Mr. McKinley came to England and entered the Royal School of Mines, taking the Associateship in Mining in 1906. He returned to Australia at the beginning of 1907, and was engaged for about six months as surveyor and shift boss on the concentrating plant at the Broken Hill Junction North Silver Mining Co. He then went to Western Australia to take up the position of assistant mine manager to the Black Range Mining Co., remaining there for about two years.
After a visit to England, he next went to Vancouver, where in partnership he opened an office for private work. In 1912 he again returned to England and shortly afterwards, having obtained an appointment as underground manager of the Abosso Mine, he left for West Africa. He remained in the employ of the company until after the outbreak of the War, and had spent two periods on the property.
Mr. McKinley was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1909.
Vol. 24, Trans IMM 1914-15, pp.509-510
