Frank Oates, O.B.E., died suddenly in London on June 10th, 1945, at the age of 55.
He was educated at Epsom College and in 1909 commenced a four-year course in chemistry, physics and botany at the Battersea Polytechnic, at the conclusion of which he obtained the Diploma of the Polytechnic in chemistry and the degree of B.Sc. (London). After a few months’ work as an analytical research chemist with the Gas Light and Coke Co. he entered the Royal School of Mines in February, 1914.
In September, 1914, he enlisted in the Grenadier Guards, being transferred in 1915 to the Special Brigade of Royal Engineers in which he served in France with a commission. He was seriously wounded, and in 1917 was posted for home service and later appointed Experimental Officer at the R.E. Experimental Station (Toxic Gases). He was mentioned in despatches in 1919 and was awarded the M.B.E. (Military Division).
Mr. Oates resumed his studies at the Royal School of Mines in February, 1919, and in June, 1921, graduated with a first-class Associateship in mining geology. He obtained the Associateship of the Institute of Chemistry in 1920. In 1921 he joined the Gold Coast Geological Survey and served as personal assistant to the Director, and as geologist, until 1929, when he was transferred to the Geological Survey of Tanganyika Territory as chemist and petrologist, his designation later being changed to that of geologist. From its inception he was in full charge of the laboratory service of the Geological Survey headquarters at Dodoma. During 1931 he acted for eight months as senior assistant geologist and during part of 1937 as chief geologist, being appointed to the latter position in 1943. In the New Year’s Honours List of 1945 Mr. Oates was awarded the O.B.E. for his services in Tanganyika.
He was elected a Student of the Institution in 1921, and was transferred to Associateship in 1929 and to Membership in 1939.
Sir Edmund Teale writes: The death of Frank Oates, O.B.E., at the early age of 55, just as he had qualified for a well-earned rest in retirement, will be deeply regretted by all his friends who appreciated his many sterling qualities both as a man and as a servant of his country.
I can speak from very close association with him as a friend and colleague throughout most of his career in the Colonial Geological Service, first on the Gold Coast and later when he joined me again in Tanganyika Territory. He was a sufferer from the last war, both from the effects of wounds in the field, and later from an accident in the research work concerning toxic gases in which he was afterwards engaged. The latter mishap, particularly, impaired his strength and he never completely recovered from its effects. His great determination and conscientious devotion to duty, however, overcame these disabilities and only those who knew him closely understood the undue strain he imposed on himself, enabling him to give such valuable service to his department and country. His work was mostly out of the limelight, but was of the quality that strengthens the complex fabric of the Empire of which the Colonial Service is an important part.
The present war, as has been the case with many senior men in every department of service, added a further heavy strain on those left to carry on. With unsparing energy and determination Frank Oates applied himself successfully to the application of local raw mineral substances for the manufacture of important substitutes for certain much-needed articles which had become scarce or unobtainable on account of shipping and other war-time restrictions. This task undoubtedly caused him greatly to overtax his hard-used physical strength. His memory will long be cherished by those who knew and appreciated his qualities.
Vol. 55, Trans IMM 1945-46, pp.574-5
