Herbert Eugene Vail died at his home in Perth, Western Australia, on October 15th, 1938.
He received his early technical training at the University of California and his professional career began in the Western states of the U.S.A. He went to Australia in 1903 under contract for a year only, but, except for business trips to England and elsewhere, he remained in Australia for the rest of his life.
His first appointment in Western Australia was as superintendent of the Bellevue mine, and later he became successively superintendent at Cosmopolitan, Lake View Consols, Lancefield and Hannan’s Star. In 1909 he was appointed general manager of the Lake View & Star Gold Mining Co. in the year of its expansion by amalgamation with Hannan’s Star and other companies. He held this position until 1929, when he became consulting engineer to the company and to Wiluna Gold Mines, Ltd.
Shortly before his death he was appointed managing director of the Yampi Sound Mining Co., and he was also a member of the directorates of the Central Norseman Mining Corporation, Triton Gold Mine, Western Gold Wine, and the Western Mining Corporation, and vice-president of the Chamber of Mines at Kalgoorlie.
Mr. Vail was elected a Member of the Institution in 1912.
Vol. 48, Trans IMM 1938-39, p.844
