Ernest John Munby was killed in action whilst serving as 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st East Anglian (Territorial) Division of the Royal Engineers, his decease being reported in the General Headquarters casualty list of February 1st, 1915.
He was educated at Bedford Grammar School and at Rugby, and received his technical training at the Stevens College of Technology, New Jersey, U.S.A., Where he graduated as ‘M.E.’ During 1897 and 1898 he was employed as assistant superintendent of the Winrow Gold Mining and Milling Co., Colorado, erecting and running a concentration mill, and in the latter part of 1898 was engineer to the North American Gold Dredging Co.
In 1899 and until May, 1900 he was engineer and assistant manager to the North Borneo Gold Syndicate, Ltd., engaged in gold dredging on the Segamah River, and then for a few months was in the Philippine Islands acting as chief assistant and subsequently as chief engineer to the United States Government Cold Storage and Refrigeration Works at Manila, until he had to relinquish the post through ill-health.
From 1901 to 1904 he was associated with the Gardner Electric Drill and Machinery Co. of Denver, Colorado, being appointed chief engineer of the London branch. In the course of this engagement he erected mining machinery and plant in Great Britain and various parts of the world. He was also a consulting engineer to the Wilfley Co.
During 1906 to 1907, Mr. Munby was engaged on railway sub-aqueous tunnel work in the United States, and during the two following years was engineer and assistant manager to the Kramer Mines, Joplin, Missouri. Subsequent to the completion of this engagement, he was in practice on his own account in the United States and in England.
He obtained his commission in the Royal Engineers soon after the outbreak of the War.
Mr. Munby was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1905.
Vol. 24, Trans IMM 1914-15, pp.510-11
