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Name: SUTCLIFFE, Arthur Windle DSO, MC (Major)

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Nee: son of Allan Sutcliffe

Birth Date: 27 Jan 1892 Fulwood, Lancs.

Death Date: 4 Oct 1962 Mombasa

First Date: 1920

Profession: 20 years in the Administration of Kenya. Farmer in the Aberdare constituency. At one time DC Nairobi. Golf enthusiast at Thika Sports Club in early 30's. Appointed a DC in 1920. DC Nairobi in 1939. Gethin - ADC at Kisii in 1919

Area: Nairobi, Aberdares, Thika, Kisii, 1922 Kisii, 1925 Lamu, 1928 Kakamega, Monte Carlo Ranch Mweiga 1937 Rubislaw Est Thika

Married: 1. 1926 Mary Bruce; 2. In Thika 10 Dec 1932 Ethel Ellis, b. 1893, of Thika (dau. of John Ellis)

Children: Lawrence (11 Jan 1934 Nairobi)

Book Reference: Last Chance, Golf, Staff 39, Gethin, Debrett, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, Colonial, Thurston, Red 22, Ruiru, DSO, Wed, Dominion, Mills, East Africa, Gazette

War Service: 5th Bn Connaught Rangers at Loos

School: Durham University, BSc (Dunelm)

General Information:

Gazette 16 Oct 1962 probate
Gethin - 'There was one very efficient DO at this time [1920] - Arthur Sutcliffe, who had served in France and won the DSO and MC. Arthur gave me great help in obtaining the necessary material and labour to build myself a large Banda ........…..'
Debrett - European War 1914-19 as Major Border Regt. (despatches 5 times, MC, DSO); appointed Assist. Dist. Commr. Kenya Colony 1920
KAD 1922 - Administration Cadet, Kisii
Thurston - CO 533, 632 - 1925-26 - Diary of Major A.W. Sutcliffe's Tana River safari
Dominion - District Officer - 1930
Mills - Arthur Windle Sutcliffe was born in Preston, Lancashire on the 27th January 1892, son of a schoolmaster, who lived in jedburgh. He was educated at Durham University (Dunhelm) obtaining a BSc. He had an elder brother, George, whom he impersonated when his call-up papers arrived to enlist in the First World War. He served in the Border Regiment and was gassed 5 times but never wounded. He was decorated with the DSO and Bar and the MC and briefly commanded a battalion of the Royal Scots near Ypres, where he was mentioned 5 times in despatches.
After the War he left Army, studied Swahili at London University, joined the Colonial Service and came to Kenya. He was District Officer in Kakamega, Kisii, Kipini on the Tana River and, whilst he was District Commissioner, Thika he met and married Ethel Ellis, a coffee farmer in 1932. They had one son, Lawrence born in 1934.
Arthur Sutcliffe became DC in Nairobi until the Second World War broke out. In 1939 Arthur joined the KAR and served in Abyssinia following which he became ADC to the Earl of Erroll, at Force HQ in Nairobi. Arthur was asked to join Lord Erroll's party on the night of his murder. However, apparently the 'electric' atmosphere led him to the Men's Bar instead. He soon retired from the Army having reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and purchased Monte Carlo ranch at Mweiga, and various other extravaganzas where Arthur was able to shoot game and catch trout.
He was a very keen fisherman and promoted the Kenya Flyfishers Club of which he was Chairman for a number of years. He was Chairman of African Safaris - Mac's Inn and Park Inn at Voi, and served as a member of Muthaiga Country Club Committee from 1936 to 1944. His political aspirations of becoming a member of the Legislative Council were defeated by Mr Ernest Hay 'Sandy' Wright. Perhaps fortunate as he had very radical ideas!
He was a particularly amusing writer to the columns of the Kenya Weekly News and the East African Standard and hardly a paper was published without one of his letters. The stories of his trips in his Rolls Royce were legion and it has to be the only Rolls Royce in Kenya purchased on hire purchase over 5 years. Annually he fished salmon in Scotland and died at the age of 70 having had a very full life. He was rather a large man, enjoyed his food and drink and was most entertaining, which endeared him to his many friends. Arthur Sutcliffe died peacefully in Mombasa in 1962. - Larry Sutcliffe
East Africa - 14 October 1926 - A marriage has been arranged and will shortly take place between Major Arthur W. Sutcliffe, DSO, MC, Assistant District Commissioner, Kenya Colony and Mary, elder daughter of Mrs Bruce and the late Robert Bruce, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire.
Gazette 21/7/1920 - Arrived on 1st Appointment - Asst. District Commissioner - 10/7/1920 - Major A.E. Sutcliffe
Gazette - 7/5/1929 - Expunged from Coast Register of Voter - Left Area - Arthur Windle Sutcliffe - Civil Servant, Lamu
Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Ukamba Voters List
Gazette 16 Oct 1962 probate

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