John Dent Young died on 23rd February, 1955, at his home in Bath, Somerset, at the age of 65.
He was educated at Mount St. Mary’s College, Chesterfield, and became a pupil at his father’s civil engineering office for three years before being employed in 1910 by Messrs. Fore and Bateman of Westminster on the Penderyn reservoir project in South Wales. He was engaged in a civil engineering capacity by Bath Corporation during 1911 and 1912.
He began his mining career on joining Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines, Ltd., in April, 1912, as surveyor. During the 1914-1918 war he served in the West Africa Frontier Force.
On demobilization Lieut.-Col. Dent Young was appointed manager to Gurum River Tin Mines, Ltd., and in 1920 took up the position of manager of Ribon Valley Tinfields, Ltd. From 1925 to 1935 he was a member of the consulting engineering firm of Messrs. Laws, Rumbold and Co. (later Messrs. Rumbold and Co.). In 1935 he became joint managing director of Nigerian Alluvials, Ltd.
He rejoined the Royal West African Frontier Force in 1940, but in March, 1941, was transferred to command of the 1st Auxiliary Group, West African R.A.S.C. He was seconded for service with the Ministry of Supply in Nigeria in May, 1942, being made Director of the Wolfram Production Board. He retired from Nigeria in 1950 and returned to England.
Lieut.-Col. Dent Young was elected to Associate Membership of the Institution in 1920.
Vol. 64, Trans IMM 1954-55, p.644
