Bertie Travers Altson died at Johannesburg, on September 26th, 1940, at the age of 50.
He was born in Cape Town, but received his education in England, and entered the Royal School of Mines in 1908, graduating with the first-class diploma as A.R.S.M. and the diploma of the Imperial College.
On leaving the School of Mines, having in the meantime been admitted to Studentship of the Institution, he was awarded a post-graduate course at the Robinson Deep, Ltd., and on completion of the course he was appointed assistant surveyor at the same mine. While so employed, he obtained the Government mine surveyor’s certificate with honours.
In 1917, he transferred his services to the City Deep, Ltd., first as assistant surveyor, and passed through the grades of manager of the western section, assistant manager and finally manager of the mine, until ill-health brought about his retirement.
For many years he was a member of the Council of the Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa, and from 1937 to 1939 was a member of the Council of the Association‘ of Mine Managers of the Transvaal.
Mr. Altson was admitted to Studentship of the Institution in 1911, was elected an Associate in 1918, and was transferred to Membership in 1933.
Vol. 50, Trans IMM 1940-41, p540
