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Name: BIFFEN, Ernest Henry 'Biff'
Birth Date: 19.2.1873 Bath, Somerset
Death Date: 30.7.1943 Bridgwater, Somerset
Nationality: British
First Date: 1901
Profession: Uganda Railway Official and Station Master at Mombasa for many years
Area: Mombasa
Married: Martha Elizabeth 'Patricia' Burgess b. 4 Feb 1875 Hatfield, d.19.3.1943 Somerset
Children: Olive Ruth (1899 Hatfield); Ethel (1903); Kenneth Ernest (Jan 1908)
Book Reference: Gillett, Cuckoo, Land 1903, EAHB 1905, EAS, Drumkey, North, EAHB 1906, Globe, EAHB 1904, EAHB 1907
General Information:
Cuckoo - Perhaps, he was the best-known European in the country at that time, for everyone had dealings with him sooner or later.............. I never found him otherwise than ready to help any man out of a difficulty, eager to advise and smooth the paths of new-comers, and anxious to make all travellers comfortable on their train journeys. Not long after 1904, "Biff" was promoted to Traffic Manager of the newly completed Nigerian railways. Nigeria's gain was E.A.'s loss; and he proved just as popular in the WA Colony.
Land Grant 1903 - E.H. Biffen - Homestead, about 10 acres - Near Nairobi - Jan 1st - Leasehold 99 years
The African Standard - 26-2-1903 - Invited to the wedding of H.R. Phelips & Miss Jacquette Edith Lambe in Mombasa (Mr & Mrs Biffen)
Drumkey 1909 - Railway Dept. - Traffic Dept. - District Station Master
North - From Barnet; UK appt. as Station Master 29-5-1901; arr Mombasa from England 25-7-1901; Station Master, Mombasa; Station Master, Traffic Dept., May 1902; at Nairobi with wife and daughter, Olive Ruth, aged 3, April 1903; District Station Master 1-4-1903; Issued with Bird Licence, Nairobi 4-8-1903
EAS - 15/1/1903 - Mr E.H. Biffen, popular station master of Nairobi is ill with fever
The Globe Trotter 6/3/07 - Letter from E.H. Biffen, District Station Master - The Station Master's Story - " …….. My own time here dates from 1901 when the days of construction were nearing their end, and with but a short break at the Coast I have been in charge of Nairobi Station ever since. …….."
North - Land Grant Application, Nairobi 1-1-1904; Olive enrolled at Uganda Railway School, Nairobi when it opened 20-1-1904, listed as left for England 15-3-1904
EAHB 1904 - Nairobi Residents - Biffen, E.H. - Station Master, U. Railway
Considine - European School Nairobi - Olive Biffen - 1/5/1905 - Nbi
Cuckoo - 1904 - Genial, kindly and efficient man. Station master at Nairobi. He was generally known as "Biff"
1939 England and Wales Register he is with Patricia Biffen b. 4 Feb 1875. He also travels with her and son Kenneth in 1921 passenger list
Nat Probate Calendar she is Martha Elizabeth, otherwise Patricia
1939 England and Wales Register living in Bridgwater with wife