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Name: KERR, Thomas (Capt. RN) OBE

Birth Date: 23.11.1887 Hampden, Trelawny, Jamaica

Death Date: 1975 Surrey

First Date: 1922

Profession: Royal Navy from 1903. Farmer. Kerr & Howes

Area: Kitale

Married: 1. In Barnstaple 26 Apr 1911 Florence Marie Adelaide Duncan b. 1 Oct 1888 Orange Free State, S Africa, d. 26 Mar 1947 Kitale ; 2. 12 June 1948 Janet Irmgard Narraway b. 18.11.1905 Jamaica, d. 5 July 2000 Guildford

Children: 1. William Angus (1912 Broughty Ferry-26 Aug 1960 Camden, London)

Book Reference: Golf, KAD, Red 31, Red 25, Hut, Jambo 72, Red 22, Macmillan

War Service: Commander, Royal Navy submarines

General Information:

Presented a map of Africa to Kitale Club in 1932 - Map dated 1772. Still hanging in the clubhouse in 1994

Macmillan 1930 - Kerr and Howes - Motor and Engineering Works - The remarkable development through which Kitale is going has a noteworthy example in the business of Messrs Kerr and Howes which although only established in 1928 has already become one of the principal undertakings of its kind in the colony and provides service and supplies that cover every aspect of motor, civil and general mechanical engineering. …………. The partners are Commander T. Kerr and Engineer-Captain H.G.T. Howes both formerly submarine officers of His Majesty's Navy. Howes is also a qualified civil engineer.

Red 31 has T. Kerr, Kitale.

Hut - 1922 Kerr & Howse Garage

Gazette - 26/9/1923 - Voters Register - Plateau North - Thomas Kerr (Late RN), Farmer PO Hoey's Bridge and Mrs Florence Marie Adelaide Kerr, Married PO Hoey's Bridge

Gazette 6 Dec 1939 Trans Nzoia Voters List

Captain of Kitale Golf Club in 1932.

Gazette 23 Sep 1947 1st wife's probate

E. African Standard 31 Mar 1934 says Thomas Kerr of Kitale married Mary Kerr [sic] in Mombasa in Mar 1934

Kitale cemetery Florence Marie Adelaide Duncan Kerr Birth 1 Oct 1888 Free State, South Africa Death 26 Mar 1947 (aged 58) Kitale, Trans Nzoia, Kenya Burial Kitale Cemetery Kitale, Trans Nzoia, Kenya Plot Row I Lot 25 Memorial ID 170704373

Kerr began submarine instruction in May 1909 and first served in the submarine C 29. Command Appointments: Commanded the coastal submarine A 9 (from November 1912); Commanded the submarine B 5 (from March 1913); Commanded HMS E8 in the Baltic Sea during World War I. After Russia exited the war following the Russian Revolution, E8 and other British boats were trapped; in April 1918, E8 was scuttled off Helsinki to prevent capture by advancing German forces. Later commanded or served in other vessels, including HMS K2 (as Lieutenant Commander in 1919) and HMS Midge during World War II.
Ranks & Retirement: Promoted to Lieutenant (1910), Lieutenant-Commander (1918), placed on the retired list at his own request in April 1920, and later promoted to Commander in November 1927.

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