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Name: GUNSON, William Henry 'Gunny' OBE
Nee: bro of Percy Gunson
Birth Date: 21.3.1895 Snellings, Cumberland
Death Date: 16.3.1972 Kiambu
First Date: 1913
Last Date: 1972
Profession: Owned a mixed farm at Eldama Ravine and was particularly interested in sheep rearing.
Area: Eldama Ravine, Hut 1920 Chini ya Toinyok, 1919 Thika, Anmer Cottage Kiambu
Married: Constance Geraldine Blanche Darell b. 1897, d. 13 July 1971 Kiambu
Children: Cedric; Brian; Greville Richard (17 Nov 1928 Nakuru-8 Jan 2015 Kenya, m. Sheila Bellhouse who d. 1980)
Book Reference: Gillett, KFA, Letter from R.G. Ridley, KAD, Red 25, Hut, Red 31, EAMR, Bur, Red 22, Barnes, Foster, Rift Valley
War Service: WW1 with EAMR - A Sqdn. 12/10/15 - To KAR
General Information:
Letter from R.G. Ridley - "Prior to WW1 some of the early settlers tried to make a living growing flax in the Lumbwa area. They eventually had to give this up and Major A.E. 'Puggy' Smith and Harry Gunson - 'Gunny' were two of the first who moved to Ravine and started with coffee and cattle ........ 'Puggy' was one of the more fortunate settlers - one of his family had founded the Royal Bank of Canada - who could draw on overseas funds to develop 'Nairosura' in Ravine, a farm at Equator station and another at Timboroa. So many better farmers were having to create overdrafts for the same purpose; a fatal move when the full effects of the 1929 depression hit Kenya. The Ravine crowd were a happy family. We often, both in the middle 30s and in 1946-49 spent week-ends with the Smiths and Gunsons. Tennis and Bridge; dinner in pyjamas and dressing gowns. Far different from the 'Happy Valley' way of life. .…."
St. Paul's Church, Kiambu cemetery - William Henry Gunson, OBE, 21/3/1895 - 16/3/1972 and Geraldine Blanche Darell Gunson, died 13 July 1971, aged 74
Rift Valley - Member of the Rift Valley Sports Club - Jan 1929 - Elected - 9 Aug 1919 - W.H. Gunson
Gazette - 3/12/1919 - Register of Voters - Rift Valley Area - W.H. Gunson - Farmer - Eldama Ravine
KFA - Director of KFA in 30's.
Hut - Partner with Prodgers
Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Rift Valley Voters List has Constance Ellen (so does Ancestry Passenger list 1948)
Gazette 30 July 1971 probate