Kill - Riding down lions on horseback - Blayney Percival, G.H. Goldfinch (who later joined the Game Warden's Dept.) and Lucas, a settler at El Donyo Sabuk were the first to attempt to put the plan into practice. It ended in a terrible tragedy. Goldfinch was first attacked, and was badly bitten through the thigh. Then Lucas was attacked, the lion got him down and mauled him terribly before Goldfinch could crawl to his aid. As soon as Lucas had wriggled clear of the brute's head, Goldfinch shot her dead at close range. Percival had been hunting down a lion elsewhere and was not in sight. Lucas died in fearful pain a week later. Goldfinch made a remarkable recovery but was lamed for life.  

Rundgren - Two settlers, Lucas and Goldfinch, were ambushed by a lion they were riding down, after it disappeared behind a bush and attacked as they galloped past. Goldfinch was unhorsed and bitten and clawed, and Lucas, going to his assistance, was killed.

Percival - Do not follow lion into thick cover - Poor Lucas of El Donyo Sabuk was killed and G.H. Goldfinch of the Game Dept. was mauled through neglect of this rule. They were after a lioness which sought refuge in some long grass and rashly went in after her. She first attacked Goldfinch, biting him through the thigh. Lucas, seeing it, jumped off his pony and fired, when she left Goldfinch and rushed at him, pulling him down as he tried to mount and mauling him terribly. Goldfinch, in his turn, went to the rescue, crawling through the grass with his disabled leg dragging, and arrived within a yard or two of Lucas lying with the lioness upon him. Obeying the word Lucas raised his arm, affording Goldfinch a clear shot at the brute's head which killed her on the spot. All the wounds Lucas had sustained were on his face and arm, so, once helped upon his horse he was able to keep the saddle, and rode for the farm. Goldfinch was in a different plight, bitten through the thigh, but he contrived somehow to remount and slowly made his way home. Arriving, he first attended to Lucas and did all he could for him before he attempted to look after his own injuries. News of the accident reaching me the same evening, I went out with the doctor and brought them both in. Everything was done for them, but Lucas died a week later. He had been fearfully mangled by tooth and claw.

Red 25 - Assistant Game Ranger 1907-23

Playne - Hounds do well in BEA, especially those bred in the country. This is the experience of Mr G.H. Goldfinch, Nakuru, who came to BEA in 1904 from S. Africa, and entered the Government service in 1906. Previously he had enjoyed himself hunting his own pack of hounds near Nairobi (English fox-hounds) Mr Goldfinch, for many years MFH in England , was formerly stock-inspector, but in 1907 was appointed game ranger for the Nakuru District. He presented Mr J.L.M. Elkington with a pack of hounds when he left Nairobi and has now a small pack bred by himself. This pack at present numbers 19, and it is the intention to hunt in the Nakuru District. The fox-hounds originally came from India, and the late Sir Donald Stewart imported five couples from England, and in June 1908, Lord Leconfield presented Mr Goldfinch with another 5 couples. Tick fever is a trouble, but distemper is rare.

Drumkey 1909 - Game Dept. - Assistant Game Warden

Drumkey 1909 - Committee Member, Polo Club, Nairobi - G. Goldfinch

Seasons - Philip Percival's memoirs - 1905 - "My brother Blayney, was the sole game warden at the time. He shared a bungalow with a dear old gentleman of independent means called Goldfinch. The day after I reached Nairobi was a Sunday and in the morning there was a meet of the Nairobi hounds. Goldfinch hunted them and my brother whipped in to him. We had a grand morning's sport. Of course there were no fences, but antbear holes provided plenty of falls [ story of Lucas and Goldfinch being mauled by lion follows]

Gazette - 4/11/1914 - Appt. - Intelligence Department - To be Lieutenant - G.H. Goldfinch

Gazette - 11/8/1915 - Appt. - Intelligance Department - Resignation - Lieut. George Hammond Goldfinch

Racing - Owner of 'Effendi' - Winner of the Kenya Steeplechase Cup in 1921

Medals - East African Intelligence Department - Lieutenant

North - Arr. Mombasa from Delagoa Bay 27-12-1904; Settler's Game Licence, Nairobi April-June 1905

Percival P - My brother Blayney, who had been in BEA for some years, was the sole game warden at the time [1905]. He shared a bungalow in Parklands with a dear old gentleman of independent means called Goldfinch. The day after I reached Nairobi was a Sunday and in the morning there was a meet of the Nairobi Hounds. The pack consisted of 6 couple from the Quorn. Goldfinch hunted them and my brother whipped in to him. We had a grand morning's sport. Of course there were no fences, but ant bear holes provided plenty of thrills.

Hughes - Goldfinch had come to BEA from South Africa in 1904, entered government service in 1906 as a stock inspector, and was an assistant game warden for Nakuru District from 1907 to 1923. In World War I, he was on the intelligence staff. He had been a Master of Foxhounds in England, and on arrival in East Africa became second Master of the Masara Hunt from 1904-08. He owned a small pack of home-bred hounds, and also ran a stock farm near Nanyuki …… [was against the Masai move]  Goldfinch was commended by DC Talbot-Smith for his extreme care in assisting Maasai to return to Laikipia, in words that conveyed his conscientiousness and concern: 'the success of the removal of the Masai back to their old reserve from around Nakuru is due to the trouble and care Mr Goldfinch took, in explaining the road to the natives, and assisting them in every way in his power. Goldfinch said he was not anti-settler ….. but simply thought 'that the native should have a fair deal' …….. [wrote an] eight-page handwritten statement headed 'The Masai Scandal' made totally plain where his sympathies lay.

Leader14 - Assistant, Game Dept.

Diary of Martin Seth-Smith 1912 - " ….. Met Goldfinch, an assistant game ranger, Naivasha Province (Headquarters to be moved from Naivasha to Nakuru as more central). Rode out with him to his house 5 miles distant to lunch. Saw his hounds and had a little hunt at 4 oclock. …….." "As to Goldfinch should think him unique in B.E.A. or anywhere else."

Colonial 1912 - Game Dept. - Assistant Ranger

Red Book 1912 - G.H. Goldfinch - Naivasha

Gazette - 29/10/1919 - Register of Voters - Kenya Area - George Hammond Goldfinch - Civil Servant, West Kenya

Red Book 1919 - Game Department - Asst. Game Warden - G.F. Goldfinch

Gazette - 3-2-1915 - Appointment - To be Acting Game Warden - George Hammond Goldfinch to date January 20th 1915

HBEA 1912 - the second Master of the Masara Hunt from 1904-08.

KAD 1922 - Asst. Game Warden, West Kenya

Gazette - 15/12/1926 - Probate and Administration - George Hammond Goldfinch (no death date)

Gazette - 26/9/1923 - Voters Register - Kenya Province - George Hammond Goldfinch, Civil Servant PO Naro Moru