Harold Griffiths Mountain died on the Gold Coast towards the end of 1938, shortly after his return from a visit to this country on leave, at the age of 50.
He entered the Camborne School of Mines in 1906 and on leaving with the first class diploma he obtained an appointment as assistant manager of mercury mines in Asia Minor and afterwards took part in a prospecting expedition through the Taurus Mountains. In 1912 he went to West Africa as chief surveyor and general assistant to Bayfield (Nigeria) Tin Fields, Ltd., and eighteen months later proceeded to the Transvaal, where he was engaged on various mines until the outbreak of war in 1914.
He was on active service in France in the Royal Engineers (Tunnelling Companies) until the cessation of hostilities, when he returned to the Brakpan Mines, Ltd., Transvaal, for about two and a half years. After a year spent in London with the Crystal Engineering Co. he acted as resident engineer to the Breconshire and Glamorganshire County Councils; and towards the end of 1925 he received the appointment of Government Inspector of Mines and Labour in Cyprus. He held that position until 1934, when he was appointed Secretary for Mines in the Gold Coast Colony, in which capacity he was still acting at the time of his death.
Mr. Mountain was admitted to Studentship of the Institution in 1908; he was elected an Associate in 1913 and was transferred to Membership in 1934.
Vol. 49, Trans IMM 1939-40, p.738-9
