OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21255, 29 August 1934, Page 12

OBITUARY

—* — SIR EDGEWORTH DAVID (UNITED riIESS mOCIATIOS-Br ELECTEIO EELXORiI'H COPTEIOHT.) (Received August 28, 8.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 28. The de-Uh has occurred, at the age of 76, of Sir Edgeworth David. His death removes one of Australia's most eminent citizens. He was distinguished both by greatness of character and bv his scientific achievements. His ser vices were in frequent demand and were always ungrudgingly grven to the Government in all matters of scientific organisation.

Sir Tannatt William Edgeworth David the geologist and explorer, was born in g Wales in 1858, the son of a clergyman. He was 'educated at Magdalen School and New College Oxford. He came out to New South Wales in 1832 as a member ot the Geological Survey, and in 1891 he was appointed professor of geology at bjdney University. He led the expedition to the Ellice Islands in 1897. From 1907 to 1909 lie served as scientific officer with the Shackleton Antarctic Expedition, and headed the party that first climbed Mount Erebus.' It is told of him that while the party was on the snow slopes of the mountain he called to Sir Douglas Mawson, who was writing in his tent: "Could vou spare a moment to come out to me?" Mawson said he was

bu.sy, but would come presently. After an interval Sir Edgcvvorth David said: "I'm awfully sorry to trouble you. but I must ask you, if you don't mind, to make haste. The fact is. I've fallen into a crevasse. I'm hanging on to the edge with my ringers and I shall have to lei go if vou don't come out and help me.' Sir Edge-worth David Jed the party which reicbed the Soul!) Magnetic Pole on January If!, 1909.

After he had raised ihe Australian Mining Corps he enlisted in it, in spite of his ago. and went to Ibe Western Front where, in 1918. ho was appointed geologist to the Brilis.h armies Among the problems he tackled was that of showing the mining engineers how 1o cope with ihe water difficulty which was threatening 1o defeat their efforts to blow up the Messines ridge. For his services he received the D.5.0.. and was knighted 1K.8E.1 in 1920. After resigning his chair in 1924 he made two remarkable geological discoveries which were announced in 1921 He slated that radio-active evidence showed that some of the oldest rocks in the world date back 1,000 000.090 years. In the Mount Lofty and Flinders Range* is South Australia h-> found recks c nta'ning perfectly preserved r< mean's of animal life millions of .wars older than any hitherto classified by science—a discovery that places the birth of life far earlier than had been supposed. He had been searching for these remains for MO years, but it was not till May. 1928, that he found ihem by Ihe aid of a powerful microscope. Thev were skeleton-- of animals someihir." 'ike sandworms or crayfish, but entirely new to s-ienee. and were discovered in what were regarded as non-fossili-fcrous sfrafa. A Fellow of the Royal Society, S'r Edgewoi th David was awarded medals by manv .learned bodies. PROFESSOR SPEIGHT'S i TRIBUTE In paving tribute to the work of Sir Edgeworth David. Professor R. Speight, curator of the Canterbury Museum, said that his influence on science in Australia and New Zealand had been considerable. He was the foremost geologist in Australia and had a world-wide reputation. His important geological work in Australia had included research on the glacial beds of the Commonwealth, while, he understood, at the time of his death Sir Edgeworth David was engaged, with others, in the important task of writing n revised work on the geology of Australia. He had done outstanding work in research on the coa] measures cf Australia. Professor Speight also referred to Ihe importance of the post held by Professor David during the Great War. On the Western Front he had shown such skill in his task that his advice proved an important factor in the British successes. He had visited New \ Zealand several times, and had taken a great deal of interest in geological | matters here.