Stephen Conrad Clavell Bate died in hospital at Jos, Northern Nigeria, on April 15th, 1928, at the age of 42.
He received his early training at the Borough Polytechnic Institute from 1899 to 1902, followed by three years at the Finsbury Technical College, where he obtained a diploma in electrical and mechanical engineering in 1905. During the years 1906 to 1908 he went through a special mining and metallurgical course at the Redruth School of Mines, whilst working under Mr. H.C. Jenkins, M. lnst. M.M., in Cornwall.
ln 1909 he occupied the position of assayer and surveyor at the Grylls Mines, Ltd., Kenneggy, Cornwall, and in the following year he went to Northern Nigeria, where he was engaged under Mr. Jenkins in prospecting, surveying and reporting on tin areas. From 1911 to 1916 he was resident engineer and manager of the Dua (Nigeria) Tin Fields, Ltd., and the Sybu Syndicate, Ltd., Northern Nigeria. Returning to England during the war he was appointed construction and maintenance engineer, under Mr. H.C. Jenkins and Mr. H.S. Denny, at H.M. Factory, Langwith, where he was engaged in the design, construction and maintenance of a large chemical plant, manufacturing principally ammonium perchlorate.
In 1921 he made at brief trip to Canada with Mr. H.S. Denny to report on methods of working deposits of asbestos, magnesite, and feldspar.
For three years, 1920-23, he was chemical engineer to Messrs. F.N. Pickett et Fils, in France, engaged in breaking down high-explosive and poison-gas ammunition, recovering; metals and chemical residuals.
In 1923 he made another trip to Canada as chief assistant to Mr. Denny, and then for about three years was in Brazil acting as consulting engineer to the Land, Oil and Mineral Syndicate, Ltd. ln 1926 he went to Northern Nigeria to join the staff of the Tin Fields of Northern Nigeria, Ltd., in whose service he was at the time of his death.
Mr. Bate was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1913.
Vol. 38, Trans I.M.M. 1928-29, p. 484
