Add MS 89338/2

Letters from Richard James Church, British East Africa, to his future wife, Christine Master, Ealing, 1901-1903, with their envelopes, numbered 109-165. Dates of receipt are noted on the back of the envelopes. The file lacks letters numbered 1-108, 158-160, and 162.

1. Nakuru, Uganda Protectorate, 6 Jan 1901. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 109. Escorted Sir Clement Hill, Superintendent of African Protectorates, to Nairobi, including reception with Maasai Elmoran guard of honour at Naivasha, visit to his brother Arthur; taking over maintenance of line from Nairobi to Elbuyon, mile 325 to mile 47,3 from Whitehall; Macallister, Betton, some Uganda Rifles and about 400 Maasai Elmoran joining Captain Gorges in a punitive expedition against the Turkana near Baunjo, his photographs of the Maasai warriors.

2. Nakuro Station, Uganda Protectorate, 17 Jan 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 110.Visit to Elbuyon to see Mr and Mrs Whitehouse and others at Blacketts Camp and Elbuyon, starting bungalows for staff, and roads around the station precincts, hunting, his photography.

3. Kedong Station, Uganda Railway, B.E.A., 23 Jan 1901. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 111. Death of Queen Victoria. Travelling the railway in his carriage, leisure activities in Nairobi.

4. Nakuro, Uganda Protectorate, 2 Feb 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 112. Queen Victoria’s funeral, visit to see steam vents in lava flow area around Lake Elementeita, construction of temporary wooden viaducts, outbreak of rinderpest.

5. Nakuro, B.E. Africa, 20 Feb 1901. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 113. Has had a house built, sketch ground plan, garden, news of colleagues.

6. Nakuro, B.E.A. 7 March 1901. 6 folios. With envelope numbered 114. Return of Macallister with his Maasai from Wasuk country, high enemy losses. Progress of railway, carpentry and iron construction work for buildings and engine shed, lions shot, reward for shooting lions within railway boundary.

7. Nakuro, Uganda Protectorate, 3 April 1901. 4 folios. With envelope numbered 115. Progress of railway, rains, etc.

8. Lake Nakuro, Uganda Protectorate, 13 April 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 116. Progress of railway, clearing the forest, viaduct foundations

9. Molo Station (M. 483) Uganda Protectorate, 11 May 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 117. Moved headquarters from Nakuro to Molo nearer viaducts. Progress of railway, rain and flooding.

10. Molo Station, B.E. Africa, 20 May 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 118. Progress of railway, trouble among men at Burke’s Camp. His new garden at Molo.

11. Molo Station, Uganda Railway, B.E. Africa, 3 June 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 119. Progress of viaducts, visit of representatives of the American Bridge Building Company. His house from Nakuro being transferred up to Molo. His photography and lantern slides.

12. Molo Station, Mile 483, Uganda Railway, B.E. Africa, 9 June 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 120. Progress of his house and garden. Trip to railhead in construction train, next station mile (Londiani), etc.

13. Molo Camp, Mile 483. Uganda Railway, 27 June 1901. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 121. Progress of railway, football at Nakuro (names of players), lion shooting, news of Arthur.

14. Molo Camp, B.E. Africa, 4 July 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 122. Sends photographs, difficulty of photography without clean water and darkroom. Magic lantern show at Spooners Camp, including his slides of Maasai chief Leguliolu, the Suk chief and the railway construction. Shortage of game caused by disturbance of the railway.

15. Molo Camp, B.E.A., 4 Aug 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 123. News of his mother’s death.

16. Molo Camp, B.E.A., 8 August 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 124. His mother’s death. How he heard the news while on leave in Nairobi with his brother Arthur.

17. Molo Camp (Mile 483), 31 August 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 125. His mother’s death, progress of railway as it approaches the lake, future reduction of the large staff expected at Christmas, enquiries as to his own future employment.

18. Molo Camp, B.E. Africa, 8 September 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 126. Driver Anderson’s death and funeral, his future employment after the end of the year, plans for shooting

19. Camp Molo, Mile 483, Uganda Railway 24 September 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 127Progress of railway, news of colleagues, Betton, Baass, and his brother Arthur.

20. Molo Camp, Mile 483, Uganda Railway, 17 October 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 128. Visit of Arthur before travelling down to Mazeras, progress of viaducts

21. Molo Camp, Mile 484, Uganda Railway, 1 November 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 129. Coming visit of Craig, shooting a leopard, progress of viaducts

22. Mombasa, East Africa, 20 November 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 130. Craig’s visit, and shooting party

23. Molo Camp, Uganda Protectorate, British East Africa, 29 November 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 131. Craig’s visit, hotel and men engaged for him, social engagements in Mombasa, train journey on special train, shooting plans.

24. Molo Camp, Mau Escarpment, Uganda Protectorate, B.E. Africa, 29 December 1901. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 132. Christmas in Nairobi, Arthur at Mombasa, Craig’s hunting news, lions, rails have reached the lake, Americans progress with erection of ironwork for the viaducts, his own hunting, vegetables and flowers from his garden, colleagues’ news.

25. Molo Camp, Mau Plateau, B.E. Africa, 18 January 1902. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 133. Leopard trap, hunting, news of Craig’s hunting for elephant and rhino, bridge erection, no news about arrangements for permanent staff yet, staff leave and departures, visit from Major Gorges and Captain Warham taking 16 chiefs of the Lumbwa country to see the railway.

26. Molo Camp, B.E. Africa, 23 January 1902. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 134. Death of Mrs Whitehouse’s father, photography, drought, danger of famine, hunting, whether the Uganda Railway tapped a healthy country suitable to European settlers, unpredictability of rainfall, Craig’s visit.

27. Ndimio [Nderno?] Station, Mile 465, Uganda Railway, 14 February 1902. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 135. Tours of inspection, dealing with a serious timber stack fire, drought.

28. Molo Camp, Mile 483, Uganda, 2 March 1902. 4 folios. With envelope numbered 136. Visitors at Molo, rain, hunting, another 1100 men coming to his district for earthwork, personnel movements, his livestock.

29. Molo Camp, Uganda Railway, Mile 484, 9 March 1902. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 137. Visitors at Molo, rain, hunting, another 1100 men coming to his district for earthwork, personnel movements, his livestock.

30. Molo Camp, Uganda Railway, British East Africa, 17 March 1902. 4 folios. With envelope numbered 138. Unable to attend wedding of Seyed Ali’s wedding at Zanzibar, hunting trip at Mau, first sighting of buffalo, 4,000 men now working for him, still no information about permanent staff.

31. Molo Camp, British East Africa, 2 April 1902. 4 folios. With envelope numbered 139. Baass’s sudden death, visits, still waiting for news about future employment, slow progress of Americans on the viaducts, hunting, progress of railway, to go to Fort Ternan in May to take charge of heavy work including tunnel and viaducts, future employment still uncertain.

32. Molo Camp, Mile 483, Uganda Railway, B.E. Africa, 19 April 1902. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 140. Sale of Baass’s effects, hunting, little chance of leave, to Fort Ternan, rumours of poor conditions for future permanent employees, a day’s general holiday to mark an Indian festival, gardening.

33. Molo Station, Uganda Railway, B.E. Africa, 28 April 1902. 4 folios. With envelope numbered 141Description of hunting elephant at Njoro, Arthur’s leave, rain causing some washouts of the railway line, raids of the Indians’ camps by the WaNandi and WaLumbwas.

34. Mombasa Club, East Africa, 22 May [1902]. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 142. Letter not posted, delivered by hand by Arthur. Arthur’s leave, his hopes for leave in July.

35. Molo Camp, 25 May 1902. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 143. Description of journey to Mombasa, progress of railway

36. Molo Camp, Mile 483, 11 June 1902. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 144. Move to Fort Ternan, progress of railway, departure of staff, visit from Major Burnham the South African scout on way to prospect for gold in Uganda, with diagram of camp at Fort Ternan.

37. Molo Camp, Mile 483, Uganda Railway, 30 June 1902. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 145. KCB for George Whitehouse, colleagues’ news, no leave likely for him in 1902, Move to Fort Ternan, progress of railway, departure of staff, visit from Major Burnham the South

38. Fort Ternan, B. E. Africa, 15 August [1902]. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 146. Arrival at Fort Ternan, work and areas under his control, news from Lumbwa country, new terms and conditions for employees staying on after April 1903.

39. Fort Ternan, Uganda Railway, B. E. Africa, 30 August 1902. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 147. New Garden at Fort Ternan, girders going across the Nyando River Bridge.

40. Fort Ternan, Uganda Railway, B. E. Africa, 8 September 1902. 1 folio. With envelope numbered 148. His father’s re-marriage. With small news-clipping regarding the report of the Consul General of the East Africa Protectorate.

41. Fort Ternan, Uganda Railway, B. E. Africa, 18 October 1902. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 149. Arthur’s return, work and accommodation, progress of bridge work and earthwork up to the lake. Little chance of leave until March

42. Fort Ternan, B. E. Africa, 4 November 1902. 4 folios. With envelope numbered 150. Progress of railway, trip to Lake with Anderson, the steamer being built for the railway, the tunnel Arthur will be responsible for, cricket club and match against Muhoroni, accident of Eastwood, chief accountant on a rhino shooting trip

43. Fort Ternan, 11 November 1902. 1 folio. With envelope numbered 151. Progress of railway, his 40th birthday, cricket dinner party with dancing to gramophone, Arthur’s move to new house at Mile 526.

44. Fort Ternan, Mombasa, B. E. Africa, 18 November 1902. 4 folios. With envelope numbered 152. His birthday party, no date yet for leave, photographs of Baass’s memorial, other photographs he is printing to send.

45. Fort Ternan, Sunday 23 November [1902]. 1 folio. Lacks envelope [153]. Her arm operation.

46. Fort Ternan, B. E. Africa, 28 November 1902. 2 folios. With envelope numbered 154. News of colleagues, forthcoming visit from Sir George Whitehouse.

47. Fort Ternan, B. E. Africa, 4 December 1902. 5 folios. With envelope numbered 155. Waring’s trip to the Ripon Falls to carry out a survey for the Egyptian government, serious flooding and derailment during George Whitehouse’s trip to Lake Victoria, plans for the Chamberlains’ visit.

48. Fort Ternan, 14 December 1902. 5 folios. With envelope numbered 156 Eastwood adapting to loss of his right arm, preparations for the Chamberlains in Nairobi, with sketch of ‘arch of Maasai warriors’, featuring stick men, animals and train.

49. Fort Ternan, 7 January 1903. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 157. No news about permanent appointments yet, medical staff to be dismissed at the end of March, Waring’s return, his photography.

50. Fort Ternan, 25 February 1903. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 161. Application for leave, uncertainty over whether he will be appointed as district engineer, the new steam ‘Winifred’ on Lake Victoria, his winnings at Nairobi race.

51. Fort Ternan, 27 March 1903. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 163. Rumours about the new appointments and his leave, possibly at the end of May, Uganda Railway ‘at home’, with programme.

52. Makindu, B. E. Africa, 21 April 1903. 3 folios. With envelope numbered 164. Appointed District Engineer, of 1st Maintenance Division, duties, conditions, leave still uncertain.

53. Makindu, B. E. Africa, 23 April 1903. 26 folios. With envelope numbered 165. His new duties, numbers of Africans employed in place of skilled Indian workers.