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Name: McCRAE, Andrew Ritchie
Nee: bro of James Smith, Donald and Robert Alston McCrae
Birth Date: 11 Jan 1889 Glasgow
Death Date: 21 Mar 1962 Nairobi
First Date: 1911 - first went to EA on a shooting safari
Last Date: 1963
Profession: Farmer, cabinet maker
Area: 'Longonot Estate', Naivasha, Nairobi
Married: In Mombasa 11 May 1916 Blanche Massiah Schill b. 10 Jan 1889 Georgetown Guyana, d. 23 Jan 1955 Nairobi)
Children: David James (17 June 1918 Nairobi); Margaret Blanche (McNeice) (25 Nov 1921 Nakuru)
Book Reference: EAWL, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, Pioneers, Naivasha, Leader14, Gazette, Gillett
War Service: EA Military Labour Service - Major 1940-46 - Kenya/Somaliland
General Information:
Source: Mrs M. McNeice
Pioneers - Naivasha - In the early 1920s the three McCrae brothers came to Naivasha and planted sisal on a large scale, south of the lake. At their peak they had 11,000 acres of it. The district proved unsuitable for the best quality sisal and, after many years of struggle, the McCraes finally left. Eventually Block Estates bought the land and used it to supply their hotels with eggs and poultry.
Naivasha - The three McCrae brothers came to Naivasha in the early 1920's and planted sisal in a big way on South Lake. They built nice houses on the lake shore and were a great asset to the community, Mrs Andrew McCrae being a foundation member of the EAWL. Unfortunately the district proved unsuitable for best quality sisal and after a considerable number of years the McCraes finally left the district.
Gazette - 3/12/1919 - Register of Voters - Rift Valley Area - A.R. McCrae - Estate Manager - Naivasha and Blanche McCrae - Married - Naivasha
Red 31 has Andrew McCrae and A.R. McCrae?
Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Rift Valley Voters List
Gazette 26 Apr 1955 wife's probate
Gazette 3 Apr 1962 probate
Major with the Royal Pioneer Corps in WW2.
KAD 1922 - Committee Member, Naivasha Sports Club
Nairobi City Park cemetery Inscription: in ever loving memory / of / Blanche McCrae / died 23rd January 1955 / and Andrew McCrae / died 21st March 1962