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Name: DE WITT, Arthur Bachelor

Birth Date: 1889 Johannesburg

Death Date: 5.8.1933 Thika, killed when caught up in coffee machinery on farm

First Date: 1920 - after coming during WW1 with SA Forces

Last Date: 1933

Profession: Coffee farming at Granville Estate, Thika; ran Blue Posts Hotel for a while

Area: Thika, 1925 Chania Bridge, 1930 Granville Estate, Thika

Married: In Mombasa 1920 Johanna Jacoba Kotzee (gravestone says - Kossie de Witt) b. 1892 Potchefstroom, S. Africa, d. 1981 Natal, S. Africa

Children: Esme Mavis (Browning); Ruth Olive (Norman); John Maximilian (d. 1988)

Book Reference: EAWL, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, Red 22, Barnes, Gazette

War Service: S. African Regt. in GEA

General Information:

First went to Kenya during WW1 with the SA Forces, and stayed in Kenya. After a time he took up coffee farming at Granville Estate, Thika. Cossie de Witt (née Kotzee, came to Kenya to join him and they were married in Mombasa in 1920. His nickname was "Bwana Chai" and he was killed in an accident in the factory on the farm in 1933, leaving Cossie, a widow at 42 with 3 young children. Source: Mrs Esme Browning and Mrs Ruth Norman
Nairobi Forest Road Cemetery - Arthur Bachelor De Witt, British, age 44, died 5/8/33
Gazette - 29/10/1919 - Register of Voters - Kikuyu - Arthur Bachelor de Witt, Farmer, Mtoni Estate, Chania Bridge
Gazette - 25/5/1927 - Notice is hereby given that Sydney Horne has sold his interest in the Blue Posts Hotel as from the 1st May 1927 and that A.B. De Witt has taken over all assets and liabilities.
Gazette - 3/4/1928 - Notice is hereby given that as from 31 December 1927 I have retired from the business known as the Blue Posts Hotel. From the above date I am not responsible for the liabilities of the said business nor am I interested therein. - A.B. De Witt
 

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