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Name: HODSON, John
Nee: son of John Hodson 1878-1956
Birth Date: 3 May 1915 Limuru
Death Date: 4 Apr 1989 Howick, Natal, S. Africa, melanoma
Married: In Limuru Apr 1952 Hilary Dorothea Douglas Stanton b. 3 Feb 1926 Kimberley, S. Africa, d. 3 Nov 2003 Howick, Natal, S. Africa (taught at Limuru Girls' School)
Children: Douglas John (8 May 1956 Nairobi); Philip Victor (1 Feb 1960 Nairobi)
School: Rift Valley Academy, Kijabe; Prince of Wales School - left 1930
General Information:
Doug Hodson (son): Helped John senior at Red Earth Farm. Commenced an apprenticeship at the wattle factory. Approached by Sam Ball at Brooke Bond’s local Mabroukie Tea Estate to see if he would like a job in the tea factory. He started on 4th September 1938.
Kenya Regiment: Original member of KR, no 141. First mission was to round up Germans in Tanganyika and intern them.
Kings African Rifles: Joined the KAR as a non-commissioned officer
WWII Campaigns: Campaign no. 1: Abyssinia [and Somaliland] - the first victory [Italians] by the Allied army in WWII. Went to Officer Training School at Nakuru, received his commission, was appointed to the 1st Battalion the KAR which was a Nyasaland battalion. Campaign no. 2: Madagascar [Vichy French]; Campaign no. 3: Burma [Japanese]. He finished the war with rank of Captain.
Returned to Mabroukie and settled into the life of a plantation company [Brooke Bond] employee. He worked in the factory through to the late 50s. His work/leave cycle was 3-1/2yrs and then 6 months off, half of which had to be out of the tropics. He also had local leave. His detailed knowledge of Kikuyu language and customs was brought to bear in the Thengi oathing ceremony in 1953 when the authorities attempted to reverse the oaths taken by the Kikuyu up to then. My mother and father were both in the Kenya Police Reserve during the Emergency
Bought five acres on the beach at Leopard Point, Malindi, in 1956 for GBP 55. Moved by Brooke Bond to Kericho in 1965, worked on Kitoi and Chagaik estates. 1981 After ten most enjoyable years at Kaisugu, left Kenya and entered into a retirement life in Howick, Natal, South Africa. Helped with the local ambulance, participated in the gun club, enjoyed the Presbyterian church and community.