Philip James Arthur Plummer died very suddenly at the end of 1943 at the age of 63.
He was an Australian, and received his professional training at the South Australia School of Mines, obtaining the Associate Diploma of the Department of Mines in 1898 and receiving a prize in the metallurgy course. He was then appointed demonstrator in metallurgy and chemistry at the School, where he remained for eighteen months. In 1900 he began twenty years’ service with the Broken Hill Proprietary Co.,
Ltd., at their smelting works at Port Pirie, starting in the assay office and later being appointed to the position of shift superintendent. When the plant was taken over by the Broken Hill Associated Smelting Proprietary, Ltd., he was appointed blast furnace superintendent, subsequently holding the posts of assistant plant superintendent and acting plant superintendent.
In May, 1920, he accepted the position of smelter superintendent at the Burma Corporation’s plant at Namtu, Burma, but returned to Australia in 1924, where for some years he superintended several small ventures in South Australia and Broken Hill. He established himself as a mining consultant in 1934, and from that date travelled extensively in that capacity in every part of the Commonwealth.
Mr. Plummer was elected a Member of the Institution in 1924.
Vol. 55, Trans I.M.M., 1945-6, p.577
