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Name: WILSON, William Herbert DSO (Major)
Nee: son of Col. T. Wilson, CB
Birth Date: 1866 Liverpool
Death Date: 15 Nov 1928 at 'Runnymede', Nanyuki
First Date: 1921
Profession: Farmer, known as 'Kirathe'. He and his wife were amongst early arrivals on the Gunner's Venture Syndicate land. By 1922 the Wilsons had a stone house, the first one in the neighbourhood) built by an Asian fundi from Nyeri. (Farm 925)
Area: 'Runnymede' Nanyuki, Timau
Married: 1902 Florence Kerr 'Florrie' Fernie b. 1879 Blundell Sands, Lancs., d. 20 Sep 1966 Karen, Nairobi (she later started Wilson Airways and her name is perpetuated at Wilson Airport)
Book Reference: Foster, Debrett, KAD, Red 25, Hut, Curtis, Red 22, DSO, SS
War Service: European War 1914-18 as Major RFA (despatches, DSO)
School: Wellington College
General Information:
Foster - They called their farm (Farm No. 925) "Runnymeade". The house is still much as it was built and is now occupied (1979) by Gordon Murray - Lennox Murray's grandson. In the early 1930s, Chris Berryman had rented Runnymeade from Mrs Wilson. In 1954 George Murray (Gordon's father) bought the farm from Mrs Wilson. The farm is now called "Lolamaric". Major Wilson lies buried on the farm.
Curtis - p. 69 - 'Some Timau Farmers' - Major W.H. Wilson and his wife Florrie were early farmers of the Gunners Venture Syndicate, a group of originally four farms north of Nanyuki owned by former gunners. In 1922 they built the first stone house in the area. After Wilson's death Florrie started Wilson Airways, Kenya's first commercial airline. She is commemorated by Nairobi's Wilson Airport.
Soldier Settlement Scheme after WW1 - Class B - Major W.H. Wilson, DSO, Gadlys, Cemaes, Anglesey - Farm 925/1
Gazette - 15/4/1930 - Probate and Administration - William Herbert Wilson who died at Runnymede, North Kenya on 18 November 1928. Applied for by Florence Kerr Wilson widow and relict.
Gazette - 26/9/1923 - Voters Register - Kenya Province - William Herbert Wilson, Settler PO Nanyuki and Florence Kerr Wilson, Settler PO Nanyuki
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