Ernest Vaughan Dabb, M.C., was killed on 4th June, 1948, by Chinese gunmen during a robbery at Idris Hydraulic tin mine, near Ipoh. He was 53 years of age.
He received his professional training at the Camborne School of Mines and obtained a First Class Certificate in June, 1915. He immediately joined the Royal Engineers, and served in France from August, 1915, to February, 1917, returning to England to train for a commission in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was gazetted in June, and in December, 1917, returned to France, and was subsequently awarded the Military Cross.
On demobilization in 1919 he took a refresher course at the Camborne School of Mines, leaving in March, 1920, to take up an appointment as assistant to Messrs. Osborne & Chappel, at Ipoh, Perak, F.M.S., where he was engaged for live yours on alluvial operations. From 1925 to 1929 Mr. Dubb worked on alluvial tin properties in Burma, and from 1929 to 1939 held the position of manager of tin mining companies under the general management of Messrs. Osborne & Chappel, including Lahat Mines, Ltd., Telok Kruin Tin, Ltd., Menglembu Lode Mining Co., Ltd., and Pusing Rubber and Tin, Ltd.
He became a member of the Malayan Chamber of Mines in 1939, and resident manager of Idris Hydraulic Tin Ltd in 1940 He was interned during the Japanese occupation of Malaya, and after a brief leave in England returned early in 1946 to resume his work in Malaya.
He was elected to Studentship of the Institution in 1920 and transferred to Associateship in 1924.
Vol. 58, Trans IMM 1948-9, pp.585-6
