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Name: GAIN, Walter Alec

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Nee: bro of Herbert Cecil Gain

Birth Date: 1875 Shirley, Hants., bapt 15 May

Death Date: 7 Mar 1943 Nakuru

Nationality: British

First Date: 1904 January

Profession: Started a contracting business first in Nairobi and then in Nakuru. After WW1 he returned to Nakuru and took a leading part in the affairs of the town and much of its progress was due to his initiative and example

Area: Nakuru, SE - Govt. Rd., Nairobi July 1907

Married: 1908 Hilda Margaret Oxley b. 16 Apr 1874 Woodford, Essex, d. 19 Dec 1937 Nakuru (dau of Frederick Oxley, she arrived EA 1906)

Children: John Neil Goodenough (Parklands, Nairobi 16.7.1909-1973); Arthur William Goodenough (12 Feb 1911 Nairobi-5.10.1917 Nairobi, paratyphoid)

Book Reference: Gillett, SE, HBEA, Cuckoo, EAHB 1905, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, EAMR, North, Legion, Macmillan, Pioneers, Drumkey, Red 22, Jews, Advertiser, EAHB 1906, Gazette, SKP, Leader14, Rift Valley, Red Book 1912, Barnes

War Service: WW1 with EAMR - E Sqdn. 13/10/14 - To EATC

General Information:

SE - W.A. Gain - Govt. Rd. - July 1907
A champion of Kenya, with great faith in the potentialities of Nakuru, he was ably supported by his wife.
Cuckoo - mentions him as the local transport contractor in Nbi. In 1907
Legion - P.O. Box 99, Nakuru, Regimental Sergeant Major, Legion of Frontiersmen; Bowker's Horse Hotchkiss Gun; EA Motor Transport Corps (EATC) 1914-19; joined Kenya branch of British Legion 1937
Macmillan - 1930 - Mr W.A. Gain is the general utility man of Nakuru, and as such has developed a business there that exerts an important influence on practically every phase of local development and necessity. …. Mr Gain was born at Havant, Hampshire and belongs to a family that has been associated for generations with the British Navy. His father, who was a Fleet Paymaster, accompanied Capt. Ayres on the Arctic Expedition in 1861.
Mr Gain received in London his early training in the arts and crafts in which he is so capable a master. His career has been most varied. He served through the Boer War at the beginning of the century, and after the conclusion of hostilities went in 1902 to Nairobi, then in its crude beginnings ………
Mr Gain opened the first office in what is now Government Rd., Nairobi and later occupied an office in one of the first substantial edifices to be built there. He began activities at Nairobi as a builder and contractor, and erected, amongst other buildings, Cearn's Building, overlooking the junction of Govt. Rd. and 6th Ave., the busiest spot in the capital. Mr Gain built the first strong-room in Nairobi. That was for the local branch of the National Bank of India Ltd., ….. He also erected the first premises of the Nairobi Club; and as his operations extended throughout the colony he built the English churches at Kiambu, Entebbe, Kisumu and Naivasha …….
Great War in charge of transport workshops throughout BEA. After the Armistice he started business at Nakuru with very successful results. ………
It may also be mentioned that Mrs Gain, before their marriage in 1908, was the first European nurse in British East Africa, and she, too, like her husband, is very highly esteemed for the kindly help she has rendered to many a deserving cause throughout the country. Mr Gain is assisted in his business by his son, Neil
Drumkey 1909 - Builder - Govt. Rd., Nairobi
Red 22 - W.A. Gain, Nakuru - Furniture Manufacturer, Timber Merchant
Jews - 1912 - tendered successfully for building the first Nairobi Synagogue
Advertiser - 4/9/1908 - Marriage of Mr W.A. Gain and Miss Oxley - 8th October
Advertiser -18/9/1908 - New Masonic Temple consecrated - Plaster Work - W.A. Gain
Advertiser - 9/10/1908 - Wedding - Walter Alex Gain - builder & contractor - Miss Hilda Margaret Oxley of Nairobi. Best man Mr Rand Overy. Bridesmaids the Misses Linton. Bride given away by her father and reception at Mr Linton's house in Parklands.
Gazette - 19/4/16 - Insolvency - Walter Alex Gain - Contractor; 22/4/14 - Insolvency - Walter Alec Gain
Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Nairobi District - W.A. Gain, Parklands
North - Partnership netween Gain and J.S. Elliott dissolved 17-3-1905; Nairobi Building & Steam Joinery Co. 1905
SKP - 1938 - Society of Kenya Pioneers - over 30 years in Colony - arrived Dec 1903 - Nakuru. Mrs Gain arrived May 1906 (marked as deceased)
Rift Valley - 25 Sep 1926 - 'I draw attention to the committee that visitors are attending Club who are not members nor introduced.'
Rift Valley - Member of the Rift Valley Sports Club - Jan 1929 - Elected - 15 Jan 1921 - W.A. Gain
Red Book 1912 - W.A. Gain - Nairobi - Builder & Contractor
Gazette - 15/5/1906 - The Nairobi Building and Steam Joinery Company - Original partners - Walter Alec Gain, Elisha King, Daniel Greenslade and Alfred Edward Linton - dissolved 3/5/1906. New partners - Walter Alec Gain, Alfred Edward Linton and George Bulkley.
Gazette 15/10/1913 - Application for Insolvency by Walter Alex Gain
Gazette - 3/12/1919 - Register of Voters - Rift Valley Area - W.A. Gain - Contractor - Nakuru and Mrs Gain - Nakuru
Barnes - Nakuru North Cemetery - Hilda Margaret Gain, died 19/12/1937 aged 63 and Walter Alec Gain, died 7/3/1943 aged 67
Freemason - was a commercial traveller in Wynberg, S Africa in 1903

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