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Name: SYMES-THOMPSON, Arthur Howard DSO (Major)
Birth Date: 6 Nov 1876 Maylebone, London
Death Date: 1 Apr 1962 Kiambu
First Date: 1913
Last Date: 1962
Profession: Served with Royal Field Artillery for about 20 years and on arrival in EA took up coffee farming. Hut - shot 6 lion in 1 day.Planter, Kianjibbi Estate
Area: 'Kianjibbi Plantation', Kiambu, 1919 Ruiru
Married: In Marylebone 12 June 1919 Mrs Florisse Bliss Dobson (widow) née Sloley, b.1891 Maseru, Basutoland, d. 8 Oct 1956 Kiambu (dau. of Sir Henry Sloley and prev. m. Montague Charles Dobson 1879-1915)
Children: Richard Herbert 'Dick' (28 Jan 1923 Kiambu-17 Apr 1991 Banbury); Pamela (m. Desmond O'Hagan) (22.3.1920-4 Dec 2016 Nairobi)
Book Reference: Gillett, Debrett, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, EAMR, Bur, Red 22, Kiambu Scrapbook, Gazette, DSO, Wolseley-Lewis, SS, Barnes, Leader14, Web
War Service: WW1 with EAMR - B Sqdn. 8/8/14 - 11/11/14 - Lieut. 8/8/14 joined Bowker's Horse and was in action at Longido and Karungu
School: Harrow
General Information:
Debrett- Major RA (retired); S. Africa 1899-1902 (Queen's medal with 6 clasps, King's medal with 2 clasps), European War 1914-18 in E. Africa (despatches, DSO)
Kiambu Scrapbook - 'In 1912 Major Symes-Thompson of Kianjibbi Estate was roused at dawn by his Kikuyu Headman, with the news that a pride of lion had killed two of his trek oxen in the night, and were harboured up in the thick bush nearby. He sent word to his neighbour, Bill Bellasis of Doondu Estate, and set off together with his partner Walter Fenton, to hunt the lion. With the aid of Kavirondo and Meru labourers and the Kikuyu Headman and staff, the lions were surrounded and driven out of the thick cover to fall to the guns of the planters. Until his death in 1962, Major Symes-Thompson recounted with pride the tale of the great day when "they bagged six lion before breakfast" on the spot that has since been known as Lion Hill.
Kiambu Scrapbook - Major Symes-Thompson began building the stone house still standing on Kianjibbi in 1914, but owing to the War it was not completed until the twenties.
Kiambu Scrapbook - By 1912, the land beyond 'Waitangi' was also being cleared and planted for coffee by Major Symes Thompson and Mr Walter Fenton (Kianjibbi) and by Captain Dorman and Mr Bill Bellasis (Doondu)
Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Kiambu - A.H. Symes-Thompson, Kianjibi Estate
Gazette - 26/8/1914 - Appt. - Captain A.H. Symes-Thompson, Volunteer Forces, East Africa Mounted Rifles, to be Lieutenant, to date August 8th 1914
Gazette - 4/11/1914 - Appt. - Permitted to resign his appointment to date 11th November 1914
Soldier Settlement Scheme after WW1 - Class B - Major A.H. Symes-Thompson, DSO, 33 Cavendish Square, W1 - Farm 149
Soldier Settlement Scheme after WW1 - Class B - Rev. F. Symes-Thompson, Stanton Harcourt, Eynsham, Oxon - Farm 1282 ???
St. Paul's Churchyard, Kiambu - Major A.H. Symes-Thompson, DSO, 1876-1962; Florisse Symes-Thompson, died 8th October 1956, aged 65; also of their son R.H. Symes-Thompson 1923-1991
Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Kiambu Voters List
Gazette 19 June 1962 probate
Ancestry Family Tree In December 1895 he entered the Sussex Artillery and in October 1897 obtained his collision in the Royal Artillery, sailing the following month for Malta. Early in 1899 he went to Crete with a mule battery and was then posted to the Royal Field Artillery at Colchester. He served throughout the South Africa War in the 7th Battery RFA and the U battery Royal Horse Artillery, being twice mentioned in dispatches, and receiving the Queen's medal with six clasps and the King's medal with two clasps. In 1905 he was promoted captain, and in the following year was appointed adjutant to the second Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
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