Kenya Diary - 28th Sept. 1902 - Nairobi - Met a distinguished scout from S. Africa, a Major Burnham, who is up here on behalf of a new enterprise, the EA Syndicate; he is trying to negotiate the purchase of many thousands of acres of land, but as there is no survey it is difficult to allocate any given area except where bounded by rivers. Burnham is camped just outside Nairobi, not far from Ainsworth's house.  

Debrett - Served in Indian Wars in America, and in S. Africa 1893-6, and 1899-1900 with rank of Major (despatches, DSO); is the well known scout.

Playne - The East Africa Syndicate Gilgil - Major Burnham, DSO (the famous scout), at the head of a prospecting party for British East Africa and Uganda, prospected over 50,000 miles of the country for gold and minerals with indifferent success. Farming operations were commenced at Gilgil in 1904 with a trial shipment of cross-bred and Merino sheep imported from New Zealand and Australia

EAS - 15/1/1903 - Mrs Burnham and their child accompanied the popular Major to Nairobi last week

North - 'Amateur explorer & scout' (FO 403); arrived Mombasa from SA on prospecting expedition with 15 East African Syndicate men & his wife, May 1902; dep. Mombasa for England with wife 22-10-1903; at Naivasha July 1904; dep. Mombasa for London Nov 1904.

DSO - "…. was successively a cowboy, scout, guide, miner, Deputy Sheriff etc. in the West. In 1884 he married Blanche Blick, of Clinton, Iowa. In 1893 he went to South Africa, and served as a scout in the Matabele War in Rhodesia, which had broken out  mainly because the subjects of Lobengula often raided Mashonaland, which the King had ceded to the British. Dr. Jameson, the Administrator of Mashonaland, remonstrated with Lobengula, who expressed regret after one of these raids, saying that the chief Lomaghondi (whose territory was under British protection) had been killed by mistake. In spite of his apologies several other raids occurred, and on 9 July 1893, the impi began to slaughter every Mashoni they could lay hands upon. Since the King thus defied the British it became necessary either to break the power of Lobengula or to evacuate the territory. The former course was decided upon and about 1000 or 1200 white men, led by Dr. Jameson invaded Matabeleland. Lobengula, after being beaten in the battles of the Shangani (25 Oct 1891) and the Imbembezi (1 Nov 1891), fled from Bulawayo and did not surrender himself. A force under Major Patrick Forbes was sent to follow and capture the King. The column could not proceed quickly, owing to bad weather, short rations and the absence of roads, so Major Forbes ordered Major Wilson and 18 men to go forward and reconnoitre. The understanding was that if the party did not return by sundown, it was to be supported by the whole column. This patrol was accompanied by Mr Burnham, the American Scout, "one of the 3 men who were eye-witnesses of that eventful night's work which ended so tragically at dawn." For his services in the Matabele Campaign, the Government presented Mr Burnham with the Campaign Medal and - jointly with 2 companions - he was given 300 square miles of land in Rhodesia, in recognition of exceptional service. Mr Burnham discovered in the granite ruins of an ancient civilization of Rhodesia a buried treasure of gold and gold ornaments, dating from before the Christian era. He led an expedition to explore Barotseland preparatory to the building of the Cape to Cairo Railroad. In the Second Matabele War, Mr Burnham took an active part on the Staff of Sir Frederick Carrington, and was commissioned to capture or kill the Matabele "God" Umlimo, and succeeded in entering his cave in the Matopa mountains and killing him. ………… {lots more} ……. Baden Powell said .."…. Though he was thus capable of deliberately killing his man where necessary, Burnham had the warmest heart possible. I know what he suffered when he lost his child at Bulawayo, and I have by me a most pathetic, heartbroken letter from him describing how, later on, he lost his little boy, a boy scout, who was accidentally drowned in the Thames some years after the Boer War. It was that which largely drove him from his peaceful retreat in England to go back to the wild in Mexico." He operated mines in Klondyke from 1898-1900. In Jan 1900, the following message reached him: "Burnham, P.O. Box 62, Skagway, Alaska. Lord Roberts appoints you to his personal Staff. All expenses paid. If you accept, start shortest way Cape Town and report yourself to him. - Capt. White, Naval and Military Club, London." On his arrival in South Africa Mr Burnham was appointed to Lord Roberts's Staff and was made Chief of Scouts of the British Armies in the Field in South Africa. ……. {lots more on Boer War} …… Major Burnham was wounded 2 June 1901 …. while on scout duty (destroying the enemy's railroad base) and invalided home. For his services there he was promoted a Major in the British Army, presented with a large sum of money, and received a personal letter of thanks from Lord Roberts - "Dear Major Burnham - As I hear you are about to return to Europe, I take this opportunity of thanking you for the valuable services you have performed since you joined my Headquarters at Paardeberg last February. I doubt whether any other man in the force could have successfully carried out the perilous enterprises on which you have from time to time been engaged, demanding, as they did, the training of a lifetime, combined with exceptional courage, caution and powers of endurance. I was very sorry to hear of the serious accident you met with in your last successful attempt on the enemy's line of railway, and I trust soon to hear that you are quite well again. - Believe me, Yours very truly - Roberts, F.M. " {more on arrival in England and visit to see the Queen} He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 27/9/1901): "Frederick Russell Burnham, Local Major. In recognition of services during operations in South Africa." Major Burnham was invested with the Insignia by the King 17 Dec 1901. In 1902 he made surveys of the French Nigeria Hinterland of the Gold Coast Colony, and he took an active part in native troubles of that time; commanded an exploration of magnitude from Lake Rudolf to German East Africa, covering a vast region along the Congo basin and head of the Nile, 1903/4 ……… {more}

North - Issued with Settler's Game Licence 10/6/1902; Prospecting in Fort Hall area July 1902, Nairobi 28/9/1902

See extensive Wikipedia entry