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Name: RAWSON, Frank CMG

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Birth Date: 16.12.1856 Kensington, London

Death Date: 30.9.1928 Ealing Common, London

Nationality: British

First Date: 1896

Last Date: 1903

Profession: Assistant Chief Engineer, Uganda Railway - 1900 - in charge at Mombasa. In 1903 took over the direction of the railway. Retired from the railway service on Sept. 30th 1903, after only 6 months as manager.

Book Reference: Permanent Way, Debrett, EAS, North, Playne, EA Diary 1903, Cave, EA Diary 1902, Mills Railway

School: Rossall and at Cooper's Hill Coll.

General Information:

Permanent Way - Sir G. Whitehouse had been in charge of the construction and working of the railway since the Dec. of 1895, submitted his resignation and handed over direction of the railway to Mr F. Rawson on March 31st 1903.  
Debrett - formerly Acting Manager of Uganda Railway
The African Standard - 26-2-1903 - Invited to the wedding of H.R. Phelips & Miss Jacquette Edith Lambe in Mombasa
North - Uganda Railway - Railway appt as Chief Accountant 9/12/1895; Asst. Chief Engineer May 1897; Kilindini Feb 1899; on leave June 1899; Asst to Chief Engineer & Deputy Manager; resigned 30/9/1903; dep. Mombasa for England 15/10/1903; 'A cheerful man is Mr Rawson - he settles sunshine wherever he goes' (EAM) 28/2/1903; 'Jovial and good company' (Sir C. Hill, FO 2); 'Usually he doesn't even stop to talk to one, but stalks on his way with monosyllabic grunts' (McGregor-Ross, RH)
Playne - Deputy Manager of Railway during construction
Cave - 1901 Nairobi - we went in a trolley to call on Mr Rawson (the manager of the line), who has a delightful bungalow and farm; and a garden where he grows all English things like peas, beans, potatoes and strawberries. …
EAS - 15/1/1903 - Mr Rawson, deputy chief engineer has been on a visit to the coast
EA Diary 1902 - Listed as Vice-President of the East Africa Agricultural and Horticultural Society - Established 1901
Mills Railway - Anderson was second in command until 23 January 1896 when Frank Rawson arrived from India as Chief Accountant, a post he held until late in 1897 when he became Assistant to Whitehouse. When in 1903 Whitehouse resigned his appointment as Manager and Chief Engineer, Rawson was promoted to Manager for 6 months only and, by the end of the year, had also left. In the early days Rawson had a frustrating time because, at the end of January, 'he had not yet got his office open, no tables or chairs being obtainable'.

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