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Name: NORTH LEWIS, Derrick MBE
Nee: son of Ivor North Lewis
Birth Date: 24 Feb 1914 East London, S. Africa
Death Date: 27 Feb 2010 Kenya
First Date: 1920
Profession: 1932 Helped on father's farm; 1934 Joined Kenya Veterinary Service and trained as a Laboratory student at Kabete. 1937 transferred to Field Staff as an Assistant Livestock Officer serving in the NFD until mid 1939
Area: NFD, Kabete, Eldoret, Kaptagat, Maseno
Married: 1. In Nakuru 23 Dec 1947 Yvonne Esmee Blessley b. 3 Sep 1922 Guildford, d. 10 Nov 2009 (she later m. Richard A. Kennedy 1917-2006); 2. Rosemary A. Campbell b. 29.8.1926; 3. In 1971 Marguerita Latham
Children: 1. Anne
Book Reference: KAD, Red 22, Red 25, Hut, EAWL, Sitrep 2, Staff 53, Barnes, Rugby, Childhood, Staff 39
War Service: Commissioned into 2/4 KAR and saw service in NFD, Abyssinia, Eritrea to Gondar
School: Nairobi School
General Information:
1942 - the Kenya Govt. applied for his release from the Army, and on rejoining the Veterinary service was promoted to Senior Livestock Officer and attached to what was then the Livestock Control, a Govt. controlled marketing organisation operating in Somalia. Duties included the veterinary supervision of cattle purchased , the management of up to 7000 head of cattle on their holding grounds and assisting in the movement of these cattle, on the hoof, along the coast route to Mombasa or over inland stock routes to Isiolo via Garissa.
At this time active rinderpest was endemic throughout this area, due to the breakdown of the Italian Veterinary Services, and presented one of the biggest problems with which he had to deal. Besides the more common diseases like Anthrax and Blackwater, quite a high incidence of Trypanosomiasis was also found in animals purchased, and treatment had to be given before they could be moved. Tsetse fly surveys were also undertaken to determine the suitability of areas proposed as holding grounds for cattle.
1944-47 served as Livestock Officer in the Nyanza and Nandi Districts. In 1945 in North Nyanza district he was instrumental in starting controlled humane destruction of unwanted dogs directed towards the eradication of Rabies, which had reached dangerous proportions in that area at that time. This work eventually led to the Administration accepting a form of registration and licensing of dogs as practised today.
1948 appointed Officer in Charge of the Central Artificial Insemination Station at Kabete. He started this unit and controlled it up to the time of his retirement in 1965.
1960 Appointed Livestock Development Officer.
1967 Joined the EA Tanning Extract Co. Ltd. at Eldoret as Livestock Manager.
1984 retired again to act as Livestock Consultant for Eastern Produce (K) Ltd., Nandi Hills.
1991 Finally retired to settle with his wife on their plot at Kaptagat.
Sitrep 2 - One of the original '500' men in the Kenya Regt. in 1937. (KR 91)
Staff 53 - Senior Livestock Officer in 1953. Originally Lab. Assistant 1934.
Early player for Old Cambrians Rugby Club - 1930s
Rugby - Played for Kenya against Stellenbosch University January-February 1935
Childhood - A Farm in Gilgil - In about October 1920 my parents, after a comparatively short spell in South Africa (where I was born) came to Kenya, bringing me aged 6 years to a farm in the Laikipia District. I had a brother 4 years older than me, and 2 sisters, one 2 years older and the other 2 years younger, and another brother was born later. An aunt who came with us was our governess and for our morning classes we were joined by children from a nearby farm.
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