David Gilchrist died on 3rd April 1955 at the age of 65.
He received his professional training from 1905 to 1909 in the Mining Department of the University of Leeds, gaining the B.Sc. degree in mining engineering in 1908 and the M.Sc. in 1911. He was employed in Leeds for a year as draughtsman and buyer for Wolf Safety Lamp Co., Ltd., and in August, 1911, left England for the Transvaal. He was first employed at Brakpan Mines, Ltd., as assistant sampler for a brief period, then for two years as assistant surveyor to Randfontein Central Gold Mining Co., Ltd.
He returned to work at Brakpan from 1913 until he Joined H.M. Forces in August, 1915, as a private in the 3rd Bn., H.A.C. He was shortly afterwards commissioned in the Royal Engineers, remaining with them throughout the war and serving overseas in Gallipoli and France. He was in command of 174th Tunnelling Company, and was demobilized with the rank of major. He was awarded the Military Cross, and was twice mentioned in despatches.
Towards the end of 1919 Mr. Gilchrist was appointed to the consulting engineer’s office of Consolidated Mines Selection Co., Ltd., Johannesburg, and after a year took a post with Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Co., Ltd., where he became a sectional manager at Marine collieries. He worked in Brazil from 1924 to 1925 as mining engineer to South American Gold Areas, Ltd., Minas Geraes, and then spent two years in Northern Rhodesia as manager Loangwa Concessions, Ltd., at Broken Hill, later holding the posts of field manager in Northern Rhodesia for Rhodesian Congo Border Concessions, Ltd., and Rhokana Corporation, Ltd., and assistant manager, Nchanga Copper Mines, Ltd., from 1928 to 1933.
In 1933 Mr. Gilchrist joined the Latilla group of companies, being appointed general manager in West Africa for Gold Coast Selection Trust, Ltd., and was made consulting engineer to Kwahu Mining Co. (1925), Ltd., in 1937, becoming a director in 1945. During his association with the Finsbury Pavement House group Mr. Gilchrist was a technical adviser on their West African companies and later was consultant to Bisichi Tin Co. (Nigeria), Ltd., Gold and Base Metal Mines of Nigeria, Ltd., and Ex-Lands of Nigeria, Ltd. On his appointment as director of West African Gold Corporation, Ltd., Mr. Gilchrist acted as technical adviser to all the group’s companies.
During the second world war he again served with the Royal Engineers, holding the rank of temporary lieutenant-colonel and war substantive major, and was released in 1945. He relinquished his commission in 1954 and was granted honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Mr. Gilchrist was elected to Associate Membership of the Institution in 1921, and was transferred to Membership in 1935.
Vol. 65, Trans IMM 1955-56, p.208
