Frank Herbert Lathbury, M.C., died on 7th June, 1960, at the age of 75.
Mr. Lathbury, after working in the London office of Mantrein (Wassau), Ltd., received his technical training at the Camborne School of Metalliferous Mining from 1902 to 1905, and obtained a first-class Diploma. During 1906 he was assaying for Randfontein Estates Gold Mining Co., Ltd., and sampling for City and Suburban Gold Mining Co., Ltd., and in the following year worked at Roodepoort United Main Reef and at East Gwanda Mines, Ltd. He was cyanider for a time in 1908 at the River Lea mine before taking up the post of sampler and surveyor at Antelope Gold Mine (Rhodesia), Ltd., and a year later joined the engineering staff of Rhodesia Exploration and Development Co., Ltd. He was manager of the Asp and Prince of Wales gold mines from 1911 to 1913.
During 1913 Mr. Lathbury undertook consulting work for New Mine Sapphire Syndicate and carried out examinations and reported on properties in Montana, U.S.A. He then spent eighteen months in Nigeria exploring new areas and constructing, installing and working monitors as manager for Naraguta Nigeria Tin Mines, Ltd., but in July, 1915, joined H.M. Forces and was commissioned in the South Staffordshire Regiment. He was transferred to the Tunnelling Coys., Royal Engineers, in September, 1915, joining 183 Coy. in France. In March, 1916, he was promoted captain and in the following year major, being given command of 181 Coy. He was wounded late in 1918 and released at the end of the year. He was mentioned in despatches in April, 1918, and awarded the Military Cross in September, 1918.
Mr. Lathbury resumed his career in May, 1919, as engineer in charge of a prospecting expedition to Nigeria on behalf of Transvaal and Rhodesian Estates, Ltd., and in December, 1920, left for the Federated Malay States to take up the position of assistant to the general manager of Sungei Besi Mines, Malaya, and to work as engineer at French Kepong mines, Selangor.
From 1924 to 1936 he was consulting engineer and manager for Kenya Gold Mining Syndicate, Ltd., and Tanganyika Properties, Ltd., and from 1937 until its closure in 1951 Mr. Lathbury was managing engineer to the Ngiga Mining Co., Ltd. He also had a private practice and as an independent mining engineer did consulting work in East Africa.
Although after a major operation in 1952 he was unable to take a very active part in affairs and retired completely in 1957, he maintained his interest in Craelius East Africa Drilling Co., Ltd., on whose board he had served for many years. He was an alternating director of the East Africa Portland Cement Co., Ltd., and, until 1952, of the East Africa Extract Corporation, Ltd.
Mr. Lathbury was elected to Associate Membership of the Institution in 1911 and was transferred to Membership in 1921.
Vol. 71, Trans IMM 1961-62, pp.245-6
