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Name: FOCKS, John Martin Theron
Nee: son of John Louis Theron Focks
Birth Date: 8.6.1906 Pretoria
Death Date: 27.8.1987 Brisbane, Australia
First Date: 1902
Last Date: 1964
Profession: Coffee planter. Ran estate 'Avontour', Thika, Chairman Nairobi County Council 1961-63
Area: Kabuku Estates at Thika; 1930 Nanyuki - sold to Jauss
Married: 4 June 1932 Dorothy Nance Bird b. 26 Aug 1909 Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, d. 27 Mar 1983 Brisbane
Children: Elizabeth Anne (m. Frederick Alonso Smirh and Nils Johan Fjastad) (1933); John Chisholm Theron
Book Reference: Gillett, Sitrep 2, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, Legion, Wed, Anne Stafford, Red Book 1912, KAD, Barnes, Alf Smith White Roots in Africa
War Service: Legion - Royal Army Service Corps, Major in WW2
General Information:
Member of Legislative Council for Ukamba constituency for many years.
Represented Kenya at the Empire Exhibition in Johannesburg in 1936.
Hut also has J.L. Theron Fochs d. 1952, pre WW1, Kabuku Avontour AND John M. Fochs 1930 Avontour Estate, Chairman Nbi. C.C.
Anne Stafford - the 1000 acres at Thika were given to my father on his marriage.
Red Book 1912 - J.M.T. Focks - Kyambu
Red 25 has J.L.T. Focks, Avontour, Chania Bridge.
Red 31 has J.L.T. Fochs, Nanyuki and J.M. Fochs, Avontour, Thika
Took up land and farmed at Thika with his wife and family. His son, John Martin, later ran the estate 'Avontour' at Thika & was Chairman of Nairobi County Council from 1961-63
KAD 1922 - Committee Member, Thika District Association
Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Ukamba Voters List
Pre-war volunteer to the Kenya Regiment (KR 749).
Anne Stafford (daughter) in mini-SITREP XLIV: Dad was born in Pretoria and in December 1906, moved with his parents to Kenya where, in 1902, his grandparents had taken up land in Thika and Nanyuki. He went to Nairobi Primary School and then Nairobi High (later POW). After leaving school he managed the farm at Thika. After his marriage (4th June 1932) his parents, grandparents and siblings all moved to Nanyuki, and the Thika farm, with some 240 acres of coffee and a dairy herd, was given to him. At the outbreak of WW2 he volunteered with many others and started in the Kenya Regiment [Commissioned 1941]. I am not sure of dates, but he served in Abyssinia and was I think then with KAR. After returning he was seconded to British Army in RASC and went to North Africa (Tobruk and Egypt) and later to Palestine. He finished as acting Lieutenant Colonel (not gazetted as the war ended) so officially was a Major. Never was much interested in farming and generally preferred politics and joined the Nairobi County Council eventually becoming Chairman. He sold the farm and left Kenya in 1964 and settled in Australia.
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