Source: Hon. R.C. Craven.  

Cuckoo - Charles Craven was a former subaltern in the Grenadier Guards, a noted boxer in Army circles and several times won the officer's heavy-weight championship at Aldershot. The Cravens eventually became partners in ivory hunting in the Lado Enclave region of the Belgian Congo, where Charles died of blackwater fever towards the end of 1909 and was buried at Koba (on the British bank of the Nile). His death was mourned by all.

Adventurers - Lado Enclave - 1909 - '..... an old friend from Nairobi, the Hon Charles Craven, who had come up with his brother Rupert to get some hunting, but had been seriously ill with blackwater fever. ..... The Cravens stayed to lunch with me, and I was sorry to hear that they had not had such good luck with their hunting as had fallen to my lot. .......... On my return to Koba after one of my trips, I was met with the news that the Hon. Charles Craven, with whom in company with his brother Rupert I had once or twice foregathered in the Congo, had died of blackwater fever. I arrived just in time to attend his funeral. ....... Two hunters with whom I came a good deal in contact at that time were the Cravens, brothers of the late Earl of Craven. Rupert was a retired naval officer; Charles had been in the Guards and was an ex-heavyweight champion boxer of the army. These men came out to EA about 1903-04 as prospective settlers in what is now Kenya Colony and chummed in with Quentin Grogan, brother of Kenya's well-known E.S. Grogan, who was already at that time a keen hunter. They formed a party of good fellows who met with fair luck in their hunting during the years they devoted to the business, and they went on a long trip to Mount Elgon with quite good results. This group was one of the boldest lot of hunters out at that period, and I fell in with them from time to time in the Congo and Lado Enclave. They generally patronized "The Harbour Lights" when in Koba, and I still possess a set of dice that Charles made for me out of some ivory chips. He fell ill there, and on my advice went up to the hills of the Enclave where the air and climate were as cool and healthy as Kenya Highlands. In the serene air and conditions of these uplands he quite recovered; but on resuming his old life on the lower plains of the Nile, he contracted blackwater and died at Koba. I shall never forget his funeral, for it was by far the most solemn and impressive that I ever attended. Under the blue sky and vivid green of the tropic Nile Valley, he was laid to rest covered with the Union Jack. Rupert lost his zest for the game after that, and having endured a few more of the inevitable ups and downs of an elephant hunters life returned to England. He came out again, however, during the War, as an officer in some corps, the name of which I forget.

Playne - Mentions a horse - 'Wink', the well known Irish pony (owned by Hon. Charles Craven), by May-boy out of a thoroughbred mare. Wink was bred in Tipperary, but was imported here from India.

Advertiser - 14/5/1909 - Sale - by order of Town Magistrates Court - The farm belonging to the Hon. Charles Craven about 4000 acres in Kiambu & Fort Hall District granted to C.B. Clutterbuck and transferred to Hon. C. Craven, mortgaged to Messrs Elkington & Penton Rs. 3000; other land belonging to Hon. C. Craven sold by Public Auction on 10/8/1908

The Globe Trotter 6/3/07 - Contributions to the Fire Brigade Bazaar, List No. 2 - Mrs Chas. Craven - Silver Card Case

The Globe Trotter - 6th March 1907 - Advertisement - At Stud - The property of the Hon. Charles Craven - "Wink" 9 years old, 14-1 hands by May Boy out of a thoroughbred Mare (see Stud Book) winner of many Races. He is a beautiful Black Brown Irish Pony on very short legs, plenty of bone, big girth and strong; carrying himself well; he should make a valuable sire. Fee Rs. 75 to be paid at the time of service. He, stands at the Hon. Charles Craven's Stables about three and a half miles from Nairobi and close to Dr. Marsh's, he can be seen at any time by appointment. For further particulars apply to - James L.M. Elkington, c/o Dr. Marsh, Kirawa

North - arr. Mombasa from England with James Elkington 27-7-1905; Settler's Game Licence Mombasa 5-9-1905; Firearms registered at Mombasa on way to Nairobi 5-9-1905

EAHB 1907 - Nairobi

Chandler - In 1903-04 the Cravens moved to East Africa and began hunting elephant with Quentin Grogan …… They conducted a particularly successful long safari to Mount Elgon. Eventually the Cravens went to the Lado Enclave to hunt elephant. ……. John Boyes once said that they were two of the bravest men he had ever met. ………. {more}

Cuckoo - mentions him arriving in Mombasa with his brother and their wives.