David Mitchell Tomlinson died of wounds received on active service, and his name was recorded in the General Headquarters Casualty List published in the press on May 22nd, 1916. He was 37 years of age, and his progress in the army had been rapid and striking. He joined as a private in the 2nd King Edward’s Horse, early in the war, and was soon advanced to Lance-Corporal. After six months in the ranks, he was awarded a commission in the Royal Scots, and so rapid was his promotion that at the time of his death, 14 months later, he had reached the rank of Major.
He was educated in New Zealand, and was an Associate in mining of Otago University School of Mines. He also held the degree of B.Sc. in metallurgical engineering of New Zealand University. In 1906, Mr. Tomlinson went to New South Wales in the capacity of assayer at the cyanide works of the Australia Gold Recovery Co. at Lucknow, and remained in the district until 1908, when he went northwards to Queensland to take up an appointment as manager of a gold mine at Gympie, which he held for about a year. He then returned to New South Wales, and while he was there passed the State examination for a certificate as mine manager. His last appointment, which he held from May, 1910, until April, 1914, was that of geologist to the Collbran-Bostwick Development Co. at Doten, Korea. He had been in London for about three months when war broke out and evoked his prompt response to the country’s demand for volunteers.
Mr. Tomlinson was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1911.
Vol. 25, Trans IMM 1915-16, pp.407-8
