heritage
East African Chronicles Archive Collection
Old Sewing Machine for MCC Heritage Collection The most recent addition to the growing list of exhibits in the Muthaiga Country Club’s Heritage Collection is an ancient Singer sewing machine donated by Bob Dewar. The machine belonged to Bob’s mother, and when she left England to marry Bob’s father, she brought it with her to Kenya. After their marriage ceremony in Mombasa Cathedral, the newly wed Mr and Mrs Dewar travelled to Nairobi by train to set up their home. The sewing machine was soon put to frequent use to make curtains, napkins, tablecloths and family clothes. Mrs Dewar was an enthusiastic seamstress and throughout her life spent many hours making outfits for her family and friends. When Mrs Dewar, died Bob kept her trusty sewing machine and recently donated it to the Muthaiga Heritage Collection where it will be displayed for the enjoyment of all Members as a reminder of a by-gone age.
The MCC Heritage Collection was also delighted to receive a wonderful set of East African Chronicles, kindly donated by the Shaw family. The East African Chronicle was an Indian newspaper that came out every Saturday. It was founded by the local Indian activist Manilal Ambilal Desai, after whom Desai Road is named. Desai was pushing for a universal franchise, and was great friends with Harry Thuku, who had similar ambitions. These will go into the Muthaiga Club Archive as a valuable part of Kenya’s history. It is hoped that other Club Members with unwanted historic items will offer them for consideration by the Heritage Collection committee for inclusion in the exhibition. Contact Daniel Katembu heritage@mcc.co.ke or call on 0111-190227. Tessa McLellan is pictured left with Heritage Committee member Peter Mathenge, handing over some twenty editions of the East African Chronicle from the 1920s, on behalf of her late brother Chris Shaw.
Bob is pictured here (centre) with members of the MCC Heritage Collection Tom Lawrence and Gail Paul.
KAR & EA Forces Gallantry Awards by Harry Fecitt The renowned military historian, Harry Fecitt has been working with the King’s African Rifles & East African Officers Association to pull together all the gallantry awards for the E.A. Forces from WWI and WWII. The Association recently donated an inscribed copy of the two-volume set to the Muthaiga Heritage Collection. The list of gallantry awards covers a vast array of men and women from both World Wars, from knighthoods right the way down to bonuses for men of the Carrier Corps. It is a remarkable piece of research, which shows just what professional a military force East Africa produced. Little known are the likes of the Sudanese soldier Sergt. George Williams of the 3rd King’s African Rifles (the Kenyan battalion which is now 3 Kenya Rifles, the KDF’s senior regiment) who was awarded not one but two Distiguished Conduct Medal (DCM), one of which was for being refused a Victoria Cross, the highest gallantry award for British troops. There are a further seven KAR 16
Muthaiga Country Club January - March 2023
Askaris who achieved the same. The books feature many Muthaiga Members, for example the OBE (Order of the British Empire) of Lord Cecil Valentine, and the MC (Military Cross) of Donald Seth-Smith, the man who shot “Freddy the Lion”. Alex Stoner recently stayed at the Club on his honeymoon and took time to present the two-volume set of KAR & EA Forces Gallantry Award books, to Paul Chemn’gorem of the MCC Heritage Collection, on behalf of the KAR & EA Officers’ Association, UK.
Heritage Presents... “The Contribution of Italian POWs to the building of modern Kenya.” MCC Member Professore Aldo Manos, recipient of the Star of Italy award, and Professor in Environmental Diplomacy, will be giving a talk on “The Contribution of Italian POWs to the building of modern Kenya. Aldo has dedicated much of his life researching the history of Italian PoWs in post-war East Africa. This promises to be a fascinating look at the legacy left by Italian PoWs during their detention in Kenya in the 1940s. Aldo will be giving his Talk on Tuesday 10 January, in the Ballroom at 6pm. A booklet with the same title will be available for free to interested
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