Joseph Hornsby Gibbons died on 8th June, 1957, at Umtali Hospital, Southern Rhodesia, at the age of 68, after a long illness.
He was educated at Oundle School from 1902 to 1907, and was trained at the Ro al School of Mines, leaving in 1910 with the Associateship in Mining. He left for South Africa in December of that year to begin his career at Village Deep, Ltd., and worked in various capacities from sampler to reduction works assistant until the outbreak of war in 1914. He joined the 7th South African Infantry, O.A.S., and served in German East Africa, resuming his profession in 1917 as assistant surveyor at Randfontein Central Gold Mining Co., Ltd.
Mr. Gibbons returned to England a few months later, however, to offer his services in the Forces in Europe, and joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. and R.E. Cadet School, being commissioned in 1918.
He went back to the Witwatersrand in 1919 as mine surveyor with Randfontein Estates, and from 1923 to 1925 held a similar position in a Government gold mining area. He joined Shamva Gold Mines, Ltd., Southern Rhodesia, in 1926 as head surveyor, and shortly afterwards was transferred to the post of section manager on the Prince of Wales mine, Bindura (now known as Phoenix Prince).
After a brief period as surveyor at Nkana mine, Northern Rhodesia, Mr. Gibbons entered Government service. He was Inspector of Mines in Northern Rhodesia from 1929 to 1938, and Senior Inspector of Mines, Tanganyika Territory, until his retirement in 1944, when he settled in Southern Rhodesia.
Mr. Gibbons joined the Institution as a Student in 1908, and was transferred to Associate Membership in 1918.
Vol. 67, Trans IMM 1957-58, p.651
