Henry Eric Wilson died on 21st August, 1958, at the age of 54.
Mr. Wilson attended Trinity College, Glenalmond, Perthshire, between 1917 and 1922. He spent the whole of his mining career in Nigeria, starting as assistant mining engineer to Keffi Consolidated Tin Mines, Ltd., in 1927, and in 1929 he joined Associated Tin Mines of Nigeria, Ltd., as mining engineer. Eight years later in 1937 he was appointed mining assistant to Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria, Ltd., and shortly afterwards was promoted district superintendent.
On the outbreak of war in 1939 Mr. Wilson served in the Territorial Royal Northumberland Fusiliers attached to West African Engineers and later transferred to the Royal Engineers with the rank of major, having command of a field company in the East African and Abyssinian campaign. He was mentioned in despatches. Mr. Wilson was also senior instructor, bridging, at the School of Military Engineering.
Mr. Wilson was recalled to mine service in May, 1943, and resumed his position as district superintendent of Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria, Ltd. He was promoted to the position of general manager in 1947, and later became Chairman of A.O. Nigeria, Ltd., the general managers of Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria. He retired in 1958 and returned to England to live in Hampshire.
Mr. Wilson was awarded the O.B.E. in the Birthday Honours in 1955 for public services in Nigeria. He had also received the Efficiency Decoration for service with the Royal West African Frontier Force.
Mr. Wilson was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1947 was a Member of Committee of the Nigerian Local Section of the Institution.
Vol. 54, Trans IMM 1944-45, pp.278-9
