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Name: BRUCE, George Wyndham RD, RNR (Lieut.-Commander)

Birth Date: 1 May 1878 Aberchirder, Banffshire

Death Date: 12 Aug 1945 Inverness

First Date: 1905

Profession: Joined the Marine Dept., Uganda Railway, in 1914, and was Chief Officer stationed at Kisumu. Later became clerk in holy orders.

Area: Kisumu

Married: In Havant 1910 Muriel Louise Norris b. 7 June 1881 Havant, d. 1963 Inverness

Book Reference: Gillett, HBEA, Cuckoo, KAD, Hut, Drumkey, Red 22, Colonial, Red Book 1912, Red 19

War Service: RN

General Information:

Masters and Mates certificate Portsmouth 21 Sep 1898
Cuckoo -  While making the northern round of the lake early in 1905, Capt. Farnall brought the Clement Hill to Bukoba and, when about to depart for the next port, was taken suddenly ill. The only other European, Bruce, had joined the steamer as chief officer in Kisumu at the start of this voyage. This was his first trip on the lake. Bruce went to Captain Farnall's cabin on the bridge to report all in readiness to weigh anchor and continue the voyage to Mwanza, Shirati and Kisumu. He found his commander dead from heart failure. This was a tragic and serious affair for Bruce. He could not speak Swahili ............. The German residents of Bukoba, hearing of Farnall's death offered to arrange for his burial in their little cemetery; and Bruce gladly accepted this friendly overture. Farnall was much liked and respected in all the German ports on the lake, and spoke German fluently. Meanwhile Bruce telegraphed a report of Farnall's sudden death to the General Manager of the Uganda Railway in Nairobi, adding the simple words of a sailor who knows his job : "Intend bringing Clement Hill to Kisumu. Will carry on from Bukoba." - He succeeded including making the first berthing aloingside the Kisumu jetty at night!   It earned him rapid promotion to a command. It was Bruce too, who almost caused a riot in bachelor-bound Kisumu. "Bwana" Bagge was a confirmed bachelor and frowned on the thought of any married officials being posted to Kisumu, finding justification in the fact that the Province was unhealthy and far from settled. Unheeding this view, Bruce slipped down to Mombasa on a few days leave without warning anyone of his real intentions, met his bride on arrival from England, and was married quietly in the Anglican Memorial Cathedral. Kisumu was staggered when he returned with a wife. She was the first white woman resident of the place and, consequently, caused a considerable sensation. Bagge was furious but impotent. He could not get a lake steamer officer transferred from Kisumu. Mrs Bruce was a lovely and typical English girl, determined to make the most of being the only lady in the small station and bring the young bachelors flocking to her new home. (Story of dinner party in dress clothes!)
Drumkey 1909 - Railway Dept. - Lake Steamers - Second Officer
Colonial 1912 - Lake Steamers - Chief Officer
Red Book 1912 - G.W. Bruce - Kisumu
Red Book 1919 - G W Bruce, RNR - Kisumu
Red Book 1919 - Railway Dept. - Lake Steamer Commander
KAD 1922 - Commander, Lake Steamers
Took holy orders and became Rev. Bruce
1939 England and Wales Register living in The Old Rectory, Warblington, with wife, as clerk on holy orders

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