Russell Beresford Ash
ASH, Russell Beresford ARSM, AMIMM (1893-1940)
Russell was born in Balham, London, on June 27, 1893, the eldest son of Mechanical Engineer Mortimer William Ash and his wife Ruth Ethel Ash (nee Youll).
Russell grew up in London and studied at the Royal School of Mines commencing in October 1911. His study was interrupted by World War 1, when he enlisted with the Royal Engineers in September 1914. He served in France reaching the rank of Lieutenant. After demobilisation in January 1919, he returned to the Royal School of Mines and completed an Associateship, by August 1919.
Russell’s first employment after completing his course at the Royal School of Mines was at a large copper mine at Alihies, in West Cork, Ireland. He was employed as Underground Manager.
In 1924, he travelled to Lagos, Nigeria to work in north west Africa in mining. From 1928, he was working at Jos, Northern Nigeria.
In 1930, he joined McIntyre Porcupine Mines Limited, in Canada, working in the gold mining industry and being promoted to the position of Safety Engineer.
In 1930, he married Canadian Joan Louise Longworth at Kensington, London. They did not have any children.
Russell first came to Western Australia on May 7, 1935, arriving at Fremantle on the “RMS Cormarin” with his wife. He had been recruited as the Underground Manager of the Great Boulder Mine at Kalgoorlie, a position he held until his death in April 1940.
He became the Chairman of the Safety Committee of the WA Chamber of Mines and an alternative member of its executive.
In 1913, he had joined the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, as a Student Member. He was admitted as an Associate Member in 1922.
Russell died on April 18, 1940, aged 46, at the Government Hospital, Kalgoorlie. He was survived by his wife, Joan.
Based on a biography in Westralian Founders of Twentieth Century Mining and augmented on November 27, 2024 by Chris Fitzhardinge.
References:
Sunday Times, 12.5.1935, p19
Sunday Times, 21.4.1940, p1
Denis A Cumming and Richard G Hartley, Westralian Founders of Twentieth Century Mining, Graphic Source Pty Ltd, 2014
Transactions Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, 1940-41, p540
