Buffalo Barua 2 (1999) - "At nearly 86, I am now in "injury time" …. [memories of founding days of Kenya Regt.]

Member of Lodge Harmony - Initiated 7/6/43, age 34, Late Army Officer, Insurance Branch Manager, Nairobi

mini-SITREP XIV - Commissioned in Kenya Regt. In 1939

Adjutant of 1KR (1 Kenya Regt.) in 1937. One of the original '500' men in the Kenya Regt. in 1937. (KR 49).

Buffalo Barua 5: John Garvey, aged 89 died in Kalk Bay, near Capetown on 7th June 2002 after a short illlness. He made an immense contribution to the Kenya Regiment which he joined on the day it was formed -1 June 1937 - and was one of a very few men in the Regiment ever to be awarded the coveted Territorial Efficiency Decoration. His leadership qualities were soon recognised by Lt. Col. Dunstan Adams and he was commissioned on 16th March 1939 thus becoming one of the few pre-war officers in the Regiment. He led a platoon in No. 4 Company which was commanded by Captain Redhead with CSM Allen (Scots Guards) as PSI. John's war record is impressive. He served as a Platoon Commander with 4KAR on the frontier of ltalian Somaliland and Ethiopia and was then promoted to Captain and appointed Adjutant of 22KAR where he remained throughout the Abyssinian Campaign which led him to the border of French Somaliland and as far as the Red Sea before the capture of Gondar. After the taking of Addis Ababa he was posted as DAAG (O) to EA Command under General Sir William Platt. He was then sent to the Staff Coliege at Quetta before embarking with the EA Expeditionary Force to join the lndian Army War Establishment as DAA and QMG to the EA Liaison section which saw service in Ceylon, lndia and Burma. He then returned to East Africa to become Assistant Adjutant General, East African Command with the rank of Colonel. He proudly led the Kenya Regiment detachment as it marched down Delamere Avenue in the Victory Parade...When the Regiment re-formed in 1950 Garvey dropped at his own request from colonel to captain in order to become Assistant Adjutant to captain Teddy Phillips KRRC. He was much involved in major ceremonial occasions such as the consecration and presentation of the colours, the Honorary Freedom-of the City of Nairobi and the opening of the RHQ. He was awarded the MBE in the 1951 New Year Honours.  When his civilian emptoyers decided, in 1951, to transfer him to South Africa over 250 members of the Regiment with their guests, which included the GOC Lt General Sir Arthur Dowler, attended a farewell dinner in his honour at Torrs Hotel. lt was a great occasion with John receiving many deserved  tributes but his proudest moment was when Colonel DA privately admitted that he had intended that John should take over command of the Regiment from Cecil Valentine.

John remained with the Prudential developing business in both South Africa and Rhodesia until l955 when he joined a firm of merchant bankers in Johannesburg which pro.vided him with good business reasons to visit Nairobi twice a year. Not only did these visits enabte frim to renew contact with his many friends in the Regiment but also
to be present for the 21st Birthday celebrations and the Farewell Parade and Laying Up of the colours - there could have been very many other men other than col' Dunstan Adams, who were witness to both the formation- and suspension of the Kenya Regiment. John was very proud that he had been sponsored for acceptance by the KRRC
into their regular Army Reserve of Officers and that he could thus maintain that he completed his army service as a Green Jacket.

John retired in 1973 but in 1975 he was involved in the formation of the South African Branch of the Kenya Regiment Association' He was elected the first Chairman and remained so until John Higginson succeeded him when he finally retired to Cape Town having been elected 'Honorary Colonel' by a very grateful old Comrades Associa-
Ition. John Garvey was man of many interests including the Church' Schools and Freemasonry. He was a founder member of the Burma Star Association of South Africa and shorfly before his death stood down as President of the Cape Branch which still had 40
surviving members. He also compiled the first and perhaps most interesting History of the Kenya Regiment.