Best - Started his career in the armed services as a light infantryman.

Midday Sun - on a visit to inspect an Eritrean refugee camp at Isiolo - 'He ended his inspection with the usual question: any complaints? Everyone at Isiolo had the same complaint, against an unrelenting, vicious wind that whirled dust around in choking eddies, shrivelled the skin and howled like a thousand lost dogs. The senior notable asked whether the camp could be moved to a more sheltered spot, giving as his unexpected reason: 'The wind aggravates my syphilis.'  

Permanent Way - As a soldier and an airman he had a distinguished record, but he had little experience of the economic, social and agrarian problems of a colony in the making, or of a railway whose accretion of wealth was rather too spectacular. But Sir  Robert brought Kenya the gift of comparative peace from political turmoil, and it was a great gift. His military experience was of value in problems of defence, for Kenya was threatened from the North by the Italian conquest of Abyssinia and from the South by Germany's claims for the return of Tanganyika, where some 2500 German settlers were infected by the political philosophy of Nazism.

Debrett - entered Oxfordshire L.I. 1898, became Capt. 1904, Capt. Royal Flying Corps 1912, Brevet Major 1913, Major 1915, Brevet Lt.-Col. 1916, Brevet Col. 1918. Director of Research Air Ministry 1919-21, appointed Commdt. RAF Staff College 1922, and to command Fighting Area Air Defence from 1926: has assumed by Roy. License the additional surname of Popham

Curtis - p. 123 - 'Peter Lavers and St. Andrews, Turi' ' ...... Jean Lavers developed talent as a playwright, and wrote plays in which every child had a part. Topical matters often provided the theme. The Dragon in a play 'St. George and the Dragon' was called the Pernicious Wasteful Dragon, whose initials, PWD, were those of the Public Works Dept. a favourite target of criticism because of the state of the roads. The Governor, Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, arrived to see the dress rehearsal unannounced - he just walked into the back of the hall and sat down on the floor cross-legged amongst the children. After the rehearsal was over he asked for an explanation of all this, and I remember his saying "I'm sorry you dont approve of my Public Works Dept. I shall have to go in next time I am in Nairobi and find out what's happening there. I rather agree with you after coming here today." He sat among the children and we had a Christmas tree as we usually did for them all. He got a bar of milk chocolate  off the tree, a thing he hadn't had for years. I remember the children asked him to share it, but this he steadfastly refused to do. He said "You can't take away the one treat I get in the year - I don't get things like this in Government House." The children absolutely loved him of course ......... [more]

Carman - Carman was appointed his personal physician - lots about his ailments - 'Physically the Governor was a magnificent specimen of manhood and he kept himself fit by playing squash and riding. His domestic life with his charming wife who was always known as 'Lady Brookham' was ideally happy and one would have thought that he would have stood up to the anxiety of those critical days better than most people. So he did, for he was eminently capable of coping with any situation and making all the important decisions which were required, but the impact on his mind gave rise to insomnia. Prior to coming to Kenya Sir Robert had been on a vitally important diplomatic mission to Egypt and though this had reached a satisfactory conclusion it was not followed by a suitable period of leave. To a man of his acute intelligence it was obvious that war was imminent and carrying the heavy weight of responsibility which he did, his anxiety was such that he just could not sleep. He consulted me, but like so many men of his type he had a rooted objection to taking any form of soporific and nothing I could suggest seemed to help him. ……… By July 1939 it was evident to me that Sir Robert was nearing the end of his tether and I feared a possible breakdown. Secret telegrams were coming in a ceaseless stream at all hours of the day and night and I used to go up to GH and help the Private Secretary with the decoding of them ………. Since there could be no letting up in the pressure of work and the seriousness of the international crisis, the Governor's condition could not be expected to improve unless something could be done to help him. ………. [Carman arranged a weekend retreat in the Ngong Hills like Chequers, for him to relax] …… [more] Sir Robert was one of the greatest, if not the greatest gentlemen whom it has been my privilege to meet and I was very grieved when I heard of his death some years after the end of the war.

DSO - For his services in the European War 1914-18, he was several times mentioned in Despatches ….. was awarded the Legion of Honour (Officier); the Order of St. Stanislaus and the Air Force Cross; created a CB, a CMG and a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 23/3/15) - "for distinguished service in the field." In 1904, by Royal Licence, he assumed the additional surname of Popham.

P.W. - A man of great personal charm and the highest character. Recalled to the RAF.