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Name: GROGAN, Gertrude Edith, Mrs
Nee: Watt, from Napier, New Zealand
Birth Date: 1877 Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Death Date: 5.7.1943 Nairobi
First Date: 1904
Last Date: 1943
Profession: Wymer - a shy attractive girl with blue eyes, brown hair, a fresh complexion and sensitive white hands. Not perhaps pretty, she had a serene dignity and a most captivating social manner
Area: Nairobi
Married: In Paddington 11.10.1900 Ewart Scott Grogan (1874-1967)
Children: Dorothy Gertrude (Slater) (3 May 1902 London-1 May 1989 Oxford); Joyce Eldama (1905 London-1973, became a nun); Cynthia Meriale (Crawford) (27 Aug 1908 London-2 Nov 1988 Wantage); Ursula Jane (Elliot) (22 Dec 1911 London-23 Oct 1996 Wantage)
Book Reference: Wymer, Jambo 72, Land, Barnes, Gazette, North
General Information:
Jambo 72 - President of the EAWL in 1942 - Soon after arriving in Kenya in 1935 Gertrude became involved in the work of the EAWL. During the war she also ran canteens and entertainments for the soldiers and, as her daughter Jane said, she was the 'typical universal mother'. In 1942 she took over from Lady Baden-Powell (Olave) as President of the EAWL. Apparently she found it difficult to whisper, so many asides sotto voce during committee meetings were audible to more people than she realised, which added to the fun.
In June 1943 she had a heart attack and died three weeks later. Hundreds of people of all races attended her funeral and as Elspeth Huxley wrote 'There was not one person who had come into contact with Gertrude since her return to Kenya who did not appreciate and love her. In remembrance of his wife Ewart Grogan built Gertrude's Garden Children's Hospital in the lovely 17 acres of parkland at Muthaiga which had been her home. The EAWL raised £10,000 for the equipment for the hospital. Land - 1911 - Mrs G.E. Grogan - Agriculture and buildings, 113.652 acres - Nairobi - 5/2/06 - Leasehold for 99 years from 1/1/03 - Registered 19/6/11
Nairobi Forest Road cemetery - Gertrude Edith Grogan, British, age 66, died 5/7/43
Gazette - 12/11/1919 - Register of Voters - Nairobi, South Area - Mrs Gertrude Edith Grogan - c/o Tannahill and Grant
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