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Name: KING, Gilbert East DSO & Bar (Lieut.-Col.)

image of individual

Photo Source: extracted from a photo in British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Bristol

Birth Date: 28 Dec 1887 Berkhamstead

Death Date: 13 Mar 1976 Eldoret

First Date: 1913

Profession: First Town Clerk of Eldoret in 1929. A distinguished soldier. Farmer

Area: Eldoret, Nairobi, Hut 1935 Eldoret Wattle Co. sold to EA Tanning Extract

Married: 1. In Battle Bridge, Islington 5 Oct 1908 Cicely Wakeford b. 27 July 1886 Headley, Hants., d. 2 Dec 1913 Portsmouth; 2. In London 10 Mar 1917 Edith Sophie 'Pud' Ryman b. 1896 Hendon, d. 24 Sep 1957 Eldoret

Children: 1. Edgar George (14 Feb 1909 Farnham, Surrey-21 July 1960 Headley, Hants.) 2. Ethel Nancie Ryman (Riley) (1920 Weybridge)

Book Reference: Eldoret, Golf, Debrett, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, EA & Rhodesia, Red 22, DSO, Wolseley-Lewis

School: Berkhamsted

General Information:

Eldoret - is a most distinguished soldier who recently celebrated his 80th birthday. He has received many military decorations, and first came to Kenya on a visit in 1913. He returned in 1919, and after growing wheat, he changed to planting wattle trees from 1927/33 and started to produce a crop in 1937. There were 1500 acres planted in 150 acre blocks. The colonel was the first Town Clerk of Eldoret in 1929 and was Clerk to the Uasin Gishu District Council . He then retired as Town Clerk in 1934 and was only Clerk to the Municipality and Council. He was responsible for a lot of the development of the town and for all the roadside trees being planted on the approach roads to Eldoret. Col. East-King entertained at different times three Governors of Kenya. He was at one time Chairman of the Nairobi City Council. He was mayor of Nairobi in everything but name and preceded the first Mayor there. With Cyril Egleton he opened up the fishing on the Aroar River (see C. Egleton)
Eldoret - From the U.G. "Rag" of August/September 1935, published by J.H. Etheridge & Sons Ltd. - "The excitement last Saturday of seeing a herd of some dozen elephant close to Eldoret! It was on Col. East King's farm that they were easily to be observed. One indeed was speared by natives, but trophies taken left little else to be seen but a mountain of meat. Two others are said to have been killed too, and the rest have trekked back to the safety of denser forest. All that so close to home, when we go on long safaris into the wilds, often to seek them in vain."
President of Eldoret Golf Club in 1932.
Debrett - sometime Lieut.-Col. Comdg. a Batn. E. Yorkshire Regt.; European War 1914-18 (despatches 4 times, DSO with Bar, Croix de Guerre)  
Red 25 - Chairman, Municipal Committee, Nairobi 1922
Hut - partner with Blanche - Eldoret Wattle Estate
East Africa & Rhodesia - 7/11/57 - Mrs East-King (née Ryman) wife of Colonel Gilbert East-King, of Kenya, has died in that Colony.
Red 22 - Member, Nairobi Municipal Council - Chairman
Red 22 - Director - S. Jacobs Ltd; Managing Director, Plateau Hotels Ltd
DSO - London Gazette 24/9/18 - Bar to DSO - Temporary Lieut.-Col., East Yorkshire Regt. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a raid made by two battalions into the enemy's lines . His utter disregard of personal danger, skill and cheerfulness throughout, inspired all under his command and proved him to be a leader of a high order. Throughout the raid he remained exposed to enemy fire in an advanced position which would enable him to control the operations, which he did extremely well. It was due to his indomitable example that his battalion was imbued with a fighting spirit which nothing could daunt.
Wolseley-Lewis - After WW2 - Mombasa - While waiting on the platform we discovered that the East Kings were travelling too. They were the parents of a great school friend of Joan's called Nancy who had married Gordon Riley. They all lived in Eldoret. East King had been in Kenya since the early days and had had a hard time until he brought wattle into the country and started the East African Wattle Factory and became one of the real pioneers of Eldoret.
Gazette 5/4/1938 - Honorary Game Warden
KAD 1922 c/o S. Jacobs Ltd, Nairobi. Chairman, Nairobi Municipal Council.
KAD 1922 - Treasurer, Nairobi Chamber of Commerce
Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Uasin Gishu Voters Roll
Gazette 15 Mar 1985 p.388 for death
FindaGrave Eldoret cemetery no. 2. Gilbert East King 28.12.1887-13.3.1976 and Edith Sophie / "Pud" / beloved wife of / Gilbert East King / and mother of / Nancie Riley / died 24th Sept 1957 / aged 61
 

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