Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1922

General Frederick Heath-Caldwell CB aged 63/64.

Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell aged 53/54

Lt. Cmdr Cuthbert H. Heath-Caldwell D.S.C. 32/33

Patricia C.M.Heath-Caldwell 2/3

Diana Heath-Caldwell 1

Rosamond Heath (Posy) aged 27/28

Cuthbert Eden Heath OBE aged 62/63

Sarah Heath aged 62/63Admiral Sir Herbert Heath KCB, MVO, etc aged 60/61

General Sir Gerard M. Heath KCMG, 58/59

Leopold C. Heath (Griggs) aged 27/28

Genesta Farquhar (ne Heath) – aged 22/23

Madeline Marion de Salis (ne Heath) aged 28/29

Staffordshire Sentinel

Monday 16 January 1922

The Hospital Saturday Governors

The annual meeting of the Hospital Saturday Governors of the North Staffordshire Infirmary was held at the Infirmary on Thursday,when Mr W.W. Gifford presided.

Others present were General Heath-Caldwell, Major Dickinson D.S.O., continues...

Staffordshire Sentinel

Friday 20 January 1922

N.S. (North Staffordshire) Infirmary - Annual Meeting of Governors - Mrs. Harrison O.B.E., Elected President - Review of a Successful Year's Work - Urgent Need for Support

The annual meeting of the Governors of the North Staffordshire Infirmary was held in the Grand Committee Room of the Stoke Town Hall on Thursday afternoon. Mrs Harrison O.B.E., J.P., of Maer, occupied the chair in the absence of the retiring President (Mr J. Taylor  Howson), who was not well enough to attend, and there were also among those present, - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Apologies for absence were received from Mr J. Taylor Howson (retiring President), Major-General Heath-Caldwell, Col. A.H. Heath, Mr G.F. Paddock, - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Staffordshire Sentinel

Tuesday 14 March 1922

Education Conference at Hanley - Interesting Discussions on Vital Questions - The Causes of Public Indifference.

A well attended conference on educational matters was held in Hanley on Saturday, with a view to arousing public opinion and making people take a keener interest in questions so vital to the welfare of the nation.

It was arranged by a representative local committee, of which Mr A.Hollins was chairman and Mr E. Hobson, secretary, and besides members of local authorities and private individuals there were a good number of delegates present from all kinds of organisations in the district.

Two sessions were held, the subjects taken being "The adolescent problem in education," and "Public indiference to education; its causes and remedy."  - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Among those present during the day were Major-General Heath-Caldwell, Dr. Hughes (Stoke-on-Trent Medical Officer), Mrs Henry Wood,- - - - (continues) - - - - 

Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser

Friday 31 March 1922

Ex-Service Men Organising.

A meeting which should be of considerable interest to ex-service men throughout the district is to be held at the Literary Institue, Sandbach, on Friday, April 7th, under the auspices of the Sandbach British Legion.

Major Royds J.P, will preside, and will be supported by Major-General Heath-Caldwell C.B.,  Lieut. H.L. Moir D.S.O., and Mr J.B. Bailey, secretary of the Ministry of Labour. Many matters which are of great interest to ex-service men will be dealt with and a large attendance from Holmes Chapel and district is expected.

Staffordshire Sentinel 

Saturday 22 July 1922

Talke and Butt Lane Hospital Saturday - Annual Procession and Sports.

Under the auspices of the Talke and Butt Lane Hospital Committee, the annual effort on behalf of the North Staffordshire Infirmary was commenced this (Saturday) morning, and was continued throughout the day. The committee have worked energetically to ensure complete success, and the whole of the arrangements were admirably carried out.- - - - (continues) - - - - 

In addition to the effort being made today, a series of further efforts to supplement the funds have been arranged, including the annual garden party, which is to be held at Linley Hall on August 10th, by kind permission of Major-General Heath-Caldwell, to be followed by the annual musical festival and a cricket match, concert,whist drives &c.

The officers for the present year are:- President of the General Committee, Mr Harold Hollinshead; vice-presidents; Major-General Heath-Caldwell, the Rev. G.Featonby, the Rev. W.F.O. Stevens, Mr Walter Smith sen. The proceedings commenced this morning with the usual sale of flowers from stalls erected at points of vantage in the village. The gifts of flowers were numerous, and thanks to the efforts of Major-General Heath-Caldwell the display of flowers this year was one of the finest which have yet been seen in connection with the effort. - - - - (continues) - - - - 

The Scotsman

Thursday 27 July 1922

Naval Appointments

The Admiralty announce the following naval appointments:-Lieut-Cdr Cuthbert H. Heath-Caldwell D.S.C., to Thistle addle, and in command; Chas F. Fisgard.

Staffordshire Sentinel

Friday 11 August 1922

Linley Hall Garden Party - Successful Infirmary Effort

Through the kindness of Major-General Heath-Caldwell C.B., the annual garden party, held under the auspices of the Talke and Butt Lane Hospital Committee, took place on Thursday, in the grounds of Linley Hall, Talke.

Major-General Heath-Caldwell, who is a vice-president of the Talke and Butt Lane Hospital Committee, has, during the past few years, taken active interest in the work of the Hospital Committee, and has rendered practical assistance and valuable services. His renewed help and kindly consideration on this this occasion was greatly appreciated.

The object was to raise funds for the North Staffordshire Infirmary, being one of a series of efforts held each year.The total income derived from last year's events was £196 7s. 5½d, and the expenditure amounted to £79 3s. 6d.., leaving net proceeds of £117 3s. 11¼d. Out of this the Committee allocated £100 to the Infirmary, £3 8s. to the Royal Alexandra Home,Rhyl, £1 1s. tothe Heath Memorial Home, Llanfairfeehan, and £2 2s. 4d. to the Devonshire Hospital, Buxton, leaving a balance of £5 12s. 7½d. in hand. Mr Harold Hollinshead is president of the committe, Mr Robert Smith is the hon. treasurer, and Mr J. Stubbs is the honorary general secretary.- - - - (continues) - - - - 

Fine weather favoured the proceedings on Thursday, which passed off very pleasantly and successfully. Over 500 persons were present, and it is estimated that the total amount realised during the day will be over £40.

Situated amid beautiful surroundings, Linley Hall is an ideal spot for such a gathering, and the extensive grounds, including the beautiful flower gardens and woods, were much admired by the visitors. The arrangements were admirably carried out, and a varied and interesting programme was gone through during the afternoon and evening.

Considerable interest was taken in the tennis tournament, which resulted in an easy win for Miss J. Dale and Mr E. Martin. There were about 30 compeditors in the bowling handicap, which was not finished until dusk. the first prize of a gold medal was won by Mr James Foxley, and the second prize, an attache case, was secured by Mr Joseph Foxley.

The prize-winners in the other events were as follow:- Lemon Racer (for boys up to 16 years) - I.R. Hancock; 2 L. Morris.Backet Potato Race (for juveniles up to 14 years), - 1. W. Bath; 2, G Thorpe.Mr W.J. Bentley was the sports secretary.

Major-General Heath-Caldwell, assisted by members of his staff, worked energetically in connection wiht the effort, and raised over £12 on behalf of the funds, being the proceeds from the sale of flowers, a hoop-la stall, hidden treasure hunt, and the provision of teas in the hall for visitors from the surrounding districts. - - - - (continues) - - - -  

 Sketch16 August 1922

Seen Through a Feathery and Mysterious Veil.

Photo.

To go to East Africa - For Big Game: Mrs Arthur McNeill Farquhar.

Mrs Arthur McNeill Frquhar is the wife of Mr Arthur McNeill farquhar, eldest son of Admiral Sir Arthur Farquhar K.C.B., C.V.O., andis the daughter of Mr Cuthbert Eden Heath. Mrs Farquhar, who possesses the unusual name of Genesta, is the niece of Admiral Sir Herbert Heath and the grand-daughter of the late Admiral Sir Leopold Heath K.C.B. Our photograph shows her in oneof the newest hats, with a feathery veil of plumage which hangs before the wearer's eyes. Mrs Farquahar is shortly leaving for East Africa with her husband for a shooting trip.

Portrait Study by Bertram Park, Exclusive to "The Sketch." 

Falkirk Herald

Saturday 19 August 1922

Rural Industries - Intelligence Bureau to be Established - Co-operative Trading Scheme.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have issued a notice stating that the Treasury, on the recommendation of the Development Commissioners, have made a grant towards establishment of a Rural Industries Intelligence Bureau, whose object it is to provide skilled advice to all who are concerned in the promotion and extension of these industries.

The Bureau has been set up under a  - deed, and the following have been appointed Trustees by the Minsiter of Agriculture and Fisheries:- Sir Douglas Newton M.P., Basil Mayhew, Sir Charles McLeod, Major-General Sir Gerard M. Heath and the Hon. Edward G. Strutt. - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Hampshire Independent.

Friday 1 September 1922

Union Castle Passengers.

Among those arriving at Southampton by the R.M.S. Kenilworth Castle today are Lieut.-Commander F.N. Eardley-Wilmot R.N., Lieut.-Commander Heath-Caldwell R.N., and Mr W. Macfarlane.

Diary of Genesta Faquhar (ne Heath) - aged 23

Friday 27th October 1922 - SS Neuralia

On board SS Neuralia, en route for a safari in British East Africa. Our party consists of Tom and me, John Rawle, Mello van Reichenberg Versluys, his invaluable valet Joseph, and Blixen [husband of the writer Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen)], who is our white hunter and whom we pick up in Nairobi. This is a funny little ship, only nine thousand tons, but she doesn't roll much. The crew are nearly all Lascars, with silent feet and grave faces. There are dances every night - 'everything except sleep,' the chief steward said. Mello and I danced this evening to a gramaphon, but the ship was rolling, and sometimes it felt as if you were climbing a mountain, and sometimes as if you were being thrown down a precipice.

Sunday 29th October 1922 - SS Neuralia

We are in Biscay, and the sea is like a range of grey mountains, breaking into snow at the top. We have been receiving SOS messages from some ship in distress, but apparently two other ships have already reached the spot she was supposed to be at, and found nothing. There's a big sea running.This morning our tea tray, which was sitting on a camp stool, bowed gracefully to Tom and then flung itself at his feet, filling his shoes with milk. Tom has met a man called Greswolde-Williams, who has got a very big property in British East Africa  and has asked us to stay there.[I realised later that every farm in Kenya is always said to be 'very big,' even if it is only a few hundred acres]. It is kind of him, considering he doesn't know us. We've got thirty-six hours of the Bay in front of us. 7pm. : Tom says we have been several miles out of our course to look for that ship, but there is no sign of her, so she must have sunk. She was a small English ship.

Tuesday 31st October 1922 - SS Neuralia

Today I was on deck by 8.30, and it was the warmest, sweetest morning imaginable. We are off Portugal. I noticed a very faint scent in the wind, which Tom says is the 'gumcistus.' It is wonderful, after a couple of days of freeazing wind, to come into this warmth and sunshine, balmy as the best English spring day. We spend the time sunning in deck chairs. What a heavenly, lazy life.

Wednesday 1st November 1922 - SS Neuralia

We have turned east into the Mediterranean, and pass Gibraltar at five this morning. All day we have been steaming along the coast of Spain, in a blue, rippling sea. The coast is all mountains and some are snow-capped. I saw a school of dolphins jumping.

Sunday 5th November 1922 - SS Neuralia

At 6.30 this morning we passed Malta. Tom made me get up to see it. It looked like a Turner painting - the sea was glassy, and out of a rose-coloured mist climbed spires and domes.

Tuesday 7th November 1922 - SS Neuralia

Reached Port Said this morning, and went ashore. Onto the ship swarmed what appeared to be hundreds of little black devils wearing rags. They ran up and down gangways, with baskets of coal on their heads, looking like a picture of Dante's Inferno. Then a conjurer appeared.

"Gully, gully, gully, you watch me ladies and gentlemen. You hold this, Lord Kitchener, Queen Mary, you take this two bob in your hand.

You close him and turn him over. I not touch you, I stand right away over here.

I take your two shillin' from you without touch you.

Then I keep him - so?

Now you blow on your shut hand - you feel the florin?

You sure got him? Yes?

Now say "Go."'

The victim says 'Go!'

'Now look in your hand, you, Queen Mary.'

Sure enough there are two lead weights there, and the man tips the two shillings off his fez!

'Lord Kitchener, you sure you got two shillin' in your hand?

I think you got little chicken in your coat.

You no feel him? Sure?''

Lord Kitchener' begins to wriggle, and at last pulls the tiny yellow  chicken out of his coat, while the money in his hand has also changed into two weights!

At last we got on shore and walked about the town, past people of every kind of nationality - unshaven Greeks with villainous eyes, Italians, half-castes, Turk, Lascars, French sailors, Arabs and English soldiers. The native police wear white drill uniform and white fezzes with handkerchiefs hanging down the back. Port Said from a distance, looks like Tilbury, with tall chimneys and spirals of smoke. But the buildings are quite fine - domed roofs, low, cool-looking, all painted white with green shutters. We stopped at Simon Artz, where you can get everything under the sun, and then had lunch at the Casino - moderate food but in a good position, looking onto the beach and the statue of de Lesseps, who made the Suez Canal.

Everyone has blossomed into topees or terias [broad-brimmed felt hats]. Several men wear tussore or white suits, and shorts.

After lunch Mello and I drove round the Arab quarter - narrow streets where the houses lean to meet each other, dirt, that hot, dry smell which is the smell of the East, countless children; Nubian goats, tall old men, native girls in odd European clothes, and married women veiled from head to foot in black, with a short, heavy gold tube about three inches long on their foreheads, so that all you can se is a pair of velvety black eyes; dancing girls and prostitutes, leaning out of windows from houses which look as if you could push them down, with unveiled faces, fat, heavy and badly made up, smiling and beckoning to the men.

We got back and had tea in some cafe where a man told my fortune, and said I had brought luck to my master, '. . . no much monies, but you master very pleased wiht you, give you much silk and fine dresses, never quarrel or beat you. You very kind to all poor people, give much baksheesh.' So I baksheeshed him, and Mello and I ran like hares for the boat. We came through the Canal at night - everything was perfectly still and you could just see a flat stretch of desert, looking mysterious. Now and again a little Arab rowing boat appeared alongside; the men sung quavery Arab songs very softly.

Wednesday 8th November 1922- SS Neuralia

This morning we reached the end of the Canal, stopping for an hour to unload cargo. The sea was clear, dazzling green-blue, and just in front of us were the Iron Mountains; during the war we had sent men up to hold them from the Turks. The soil is hard as iron - it gets blazing hot in the sun, and the wretched men got their feet so terribly blistered and burnt that some of them died. The mountains are a reddish sand colour; they look cruel.A lovely little yacht went round and round the ship with two handsome English boys in her. She was a real beauty and very fast. They came straight up to the ship and then swung round and skimmed alongside. They waved and beckoned us to go for a sail. I should have loved it! Now we are in the Red Sea with a following wind, but it's not hot enough for me. 

Friday 10th November 1922- SS Neuralia

The last two days the heat has grown. Everything is hot - face creams, cold water, tiles and woodwork -and everyone drips. The cabins are suffocating. Last night I slept outside, where they have opened part of the ship and put up a balcony rail. Many people sleep on deck now.

The starlit nights and the dawns are lovely.At 4.15 this afternoon we reached Port Sudan. This place is a piece of flat desert, surrounded by mountains with jagged crests, red and forbidding. On one side of the harbour is the European quarter. We drew up alongside the wharf where there were crowds of every sort of native; tall, fat, light skinned, oily; carefully dressed Egyptians in tarbooshes; Arabs in jackets, trousers and turbans; tall, lean, elegant negroes with shoulders thrown back. Big hands, thin legs, skins that are black, blacker than coal, blue-black. Some have shaven heads, others have a mass of fuzzy, not woolly hair. [These are the Sudanese tribe, once called by our troops 'Fuzzy-Wuzzies.'. Kipling wrote a poem about them, praising their fighting powers.] They wear a sack fastened somehow round their middle. They can't talk to each other - they shout and wave their arms.Tom and John and Mello bathed. I don't like Tom's bathing here - there are sharks and barracuda.

Saturday 11th November 1922 - SS Neuralia

Shoals of flying fish jump right out of the water and look very pretty, flashing in the sun. This evening there was a dance at the hotel, to which some of us went in fancy dress. It was great fun and the band was very good. On the steps of teh verandah there was a crowd of Sudanese natives - pitch-black men in white robes and turbans leaning forward and watching us as we gyrated in our strange and indecent European dances.The natives are very mixed. The Fuzzy-Wuzzies I like so much are a tribe who live in the hills, very proud and fierce and independent, and don't come down much to work. They are handsome, tall men with Arab features and thick hair standing out all over their heads.

It has been extremely hot today - the tempurature is about ninety-three in the shade, but the air is so heavy. I met some of the English inhabitants and said I wanted a ride, so some nice lad is lending me his pony and coming with me on another, and I have borrowed some slacks.

Sunday 12th November 1922 - SS Neuralia - Port Sudan

At 5.30 this morning I got up and dressed for a splendid ride. I had a little brown Sudanese pony called Pongo. These ponies have nice shoulders and legs, quarters like a giraffe and iron mouths. We went through the native quarter, where the huts are built of packing cases, sacking and reeds, and mostly furnished with kerosene tins. The women are pitch-black, unveiled and swathed in orange, red and crimson robes. They smile the whole time, so you see across these inky faces a shining white bar of teeth. I saw one particularly splendid Fussy in white robes and carrying a huge curved scimitar, and another stalking along at the head of a long string of camels. Beyond this flat stretch of desert are the hills, all veiled in a sandy mist today - it is going to be hot. The whole desert is covered with bones of animals that have died here, and there are fat, heavy vultures flapping about everywhere. But the English have created what they always create everywhere they go - a golf course, racecourse and tennis courts. The English overseas are wonderfully enterprising, and never allow bad conditions to get them down.We came back to breakfast at the hotel where I created a sensation by appearing in slacks. Apparently it hadn't been done before. After breakfast they played the gramophone, all the tune from England, and we felt slightly homesick.

Monday 13th November 1922 - SS Neuralia - Port Sudan

At noon today we said goodbye to little Port Sudan and steamed out. As we passed a Canadian freighter, a man on her deck started playing the bagpipes and I nearly wept. What a place to hear the pipes! They were played in honour of our chief engineer, who comes from Mull, andthe piper was the same man who had played the Canadians over thetop of Vimy Ridge. He was even playing the same pipes. We listened to them growing fainter and fainter, until they died away in the distance, and we were on the open sea once more.The water over the coral reef is very dark green, shot with pale green, blue, purple and mauve, full of light and always changing.Tom has spent most of his time fishing, but never caught one, though we saw several one night, slipping around in the garbage from the ship.

Wednesday 15th November 1922 - SS Neuralia 

Today we passed an island off the Arabian coast called Perim. It's a dreary place - bare, barren, brown, not a tree or a shrub, a small Arab village and a smaller European settlement. There is oil here and a huge tank with "The Petrol Company Limited" written on it, which looks slightly incongruous.The Arabs can keep Arabia - so everyone on board feels. Of all depressing-looking countries, this is the worst. Nothing but absolutely barren mountains, very high and jagged. That is all there is to be seen. The look like the spines on a dragon's back. But the country inland is quite fertile.At 7pm we reached Aden. It looked lovely, because it was night adn all the lights in the town glimmered in a semi-circle, climbing up the hills. Then little boats came out, each with a flickering light burning in it, and Somalis trying to sell us cigarettes. 'I say! I say! Cigarette, mister? Three Castles? I say! Baskets? I say! Ostrich feather? I say!'

We got onshore and went to the club for drinks. It was cool this evening, but this is one of the hottest places on earth. The tempurature in summer sometimes reached 130 Fahrenheit and the whole place is builton and cut out of rock - the roads aren't made, they're just rock hewn more or less smooth. I wanted to see the large wells called 'tanks' which some people say were built by Solomon for the Queen of Sheba, and others say by the Romans. They are the only water supply the place has got.but it was too dark to see. They are vital to the town, as it rains here about once every thirty-two years!We left at about midnight. This is the last lap. Next stop, Mombasa!

Tuesday 21stt November 1922 - SS Neuralia

 Last night, being the last on board for most of us, we had quite a good fight in the dining room. Walnuts, lumps of sugar and buns are all right, but apples can be dangerous. We finished by dancing, it was all great fun. this morning we came into Kilindini Harbour, which is lovely: a very narrow entrance; low land covered with palms and thick green vegetation, rich mauve and red bougainvillaea climbing everywhere and over the bungalows, which were all painted white and red; narrow arms of the sea curling off inland. Then people's boys began to swarm on board, enchanted to see their bwanas again, every black face one large smile.

Left by the 3pm train for Nairobi. Keith Caldwell of the Game Department has sent down his own boy, Idi, to look after us. We ran from coconut tree country into rich grassland, then the sun set and in fifteen minutes it was dark.Our carriage is a joke. One seat runs the length of one side. Above it is a bunk you lower. A cubby-hole opening out of it contains a fixed basin and a primitive tap, and that's all. You have to bring your own pillows (which we didn't), blankets (which we didn't) soap, glasses and towels. But it wasn't so bad, and not nearly so cold as we expected. On Kilimangaro in the sunrise the snow flashes pink and white. We ran through a large reserve; the animals just stand close to the line staring at the train. We saw a lot of game, but very little variety - zebra, Thompson's gazelle, Grant's wildebeest and kongoni. The Athi plain is vast, covered with short, yellowish grass. It's a heavenly country, so happy and full of sun. The natives by the track touch their foreheads and scramble for oranges thrown to them and laugh all the time.

Reached Nairobi, found Keith and went to the Norfolk Hotel, which is primitive in some ways but quite nice on the whole. Tow boys appeared - Ahbid, a Swahili, for Tom, and Ali, a Somali, for me. We met our hunter, Baron Blixen, who is a 'character' and great fun. We had left poor John and Mello at Kilindini to struggle with the stores, but as we shan't get them for a fortnight, we're going on a short safari first, to the Kedong Valley.

(Baron Bror Fredrik von Blixen-Finecke (25 July 1886 – 4 March 1946) aged 36

Every sort of conveyance passes here, cars, motorbikes, ox-wagons, with all the oxen trying to leave the work to someone else, mule carts, riding-horses and rickshaws. At night parties of natives sit round a fire, talking endlessly. Keith took us to his house where we met Lady Northey, beautiful and charming, the wife of the Governor, also her daughter, Mrs Martin, and Mr Martin. Lady Northey is a South African, from a famous Dutch family. She is a lively person, and has, it is said, been known to dance a pas seule on a table.

Friday 24th November 1922 - Nairobi, Kenya

I am at home to most of the tradesmen of Nairobi all the morning, buying stuff on Lady N's advice, she has been so kind. Lunched with Keith at Muthaiga Club, an attractive place some way out. Vim Hervey, who came down from her brother's farm 200 miles away specially to see us, met me yesterday. She is a darling, and it is wonderful to see her again. After lunch we went to Government House to see the menagerie, very interesting indeed; two lions in thoroughly bad tempers, having their lunch, some lion cubs, several leopards, one of them very kindly allowed me to rub his back, but you can't touch his head, he mauled his boy the other day; a young buffalo; monkeys, a bush-baby with charming manners, some buck and a young zebra.

Then K. took us out on the plains in his Hupmobile. We left the road and went straight across country, up and over the railway embankment, down into a dry river-bed, scrambling out the other side over flat rocks and banks of sand. He drove us into a herd of Impala; they leapt high into the air, jumping across and across each other, the prettiest and most graceful things in Africa, I'm sure.

Saturday 25th November 1922 - Nairobi, Kenya

John, Mello and Joseph arrived today, they have had an awful time at Mombasa, getting the stuff through. There stores won't be up for ages, but the guns and ammunition are here.I dined at Muthaiga club, good food and amusing people. I met a very nice General Baker-Kerr, he has a place near Mt. Elgon. The dancing was fun to a K.A.R. [King's African Rifles] native band, who played very well. The can't read music at all, and have to be taught, by ear, every note.

Sunday 26th November 1922 - Kenya

Today we started off for a camp. Drove sixty miles along the main road, which mostly consists of two cart ruts with rocks, pig-holes about four foot round, and narrow rivers. Lunched at Greswold-William's farm, looking across a vast, yellow valley. The house is backed with the sort of hills you see in the south of France, except that these contain buffalo, snakes and other wildlife. Then on and on, over more astounding country, till, after dark, we left even this apology for a road and came a few hundred yards through long yellow grass to the camp.It looked fascinating, with fires crackling everywhere, all our tents set up, all the boys, black and shining, wearing red blankets, and Blickie doing the perfect host. I went round with him to the different fires, and saw the boys having their suppers (one black pot, full of a mess like soup - mealie and porridge mixed). Then came bath, pyjamas and a delicious dinner. We sat by the fire and toasted our toes while a boy came and sang to the native violin, a katanda, made like a bow with a hollow red bowl, open both ends, and played wiht a stick like an arrow. Then bed, and the heavenly sound sleep that the open air brings.

Monday 27th November 1922 - Kenya.

Arose at 5am, struck camp after breakfast, and started in three parties of two each for the next camp, collecting food en route with rifles. I got a bird the size of a small turkey[a greater bastard] whcih will be good at dinner tonight. He was over a hundred yards away, and the gun bearer was quite pleased with me.Now we are in camp on a little hill, overlooking the vast plain, very tired and happy. There is a great affair about the water. It all has to be brought here, and is as black as a Swahili. But we wash more of less clean and drink milk the Masai have sent us. After dinner we sit round the fire and play the gramophone. The plain looks mysterious and dim, and now and then a jackal screeches. I am quite sure this is the only life for me.

Tuesday 28th November 1922 - Kenya

Tom went off on his own, and Blickie took charge of us. It is so well organized. We have all got nice mules to ride, and when there is anything to shoot, one of us gets off and follows Blickie, who just walks alongside the game until we are near enough, then he walks straight on while we take our shot. I got a really beautiful head, a Grant's gazelle. The horn measured twenty-five inches; it may be a record.

At last we reached luncheon, a delicious place under great trees where our dining tent had been set up with chairs and a table. Even my bed and pillow were ready for an afternoon read. We had a first-class meal cooked on the spot, adn then rested for the whole hot afternoon. Two Masai and two Wandorobo have attached themselves to the camp temporarily. They sat under a tree at the lunch place, watching us with unmoving eyes. The Wandorobo are the oldest inhabitants of this part of Africa. Very small and graceful, living in the forest on honey and game, until the Kikuyu arrived and drove them away. The Masai smear their bodies with castor oil (from the shrub which grows here) and red mud, so that they shine red, and their hair is a mass of tiny, frizzy corkscrews. The huge lobes of their ears are carved out and look like very large ear-rings. Their almost classical features are a cross between Egyptian and Jewish types - in fact one man who has studied them and their habits says they are the remnants of the biblical tribe which got lost. Their clothes consist of a belt hung wiht a short sword, a little club perhaps a foot long, and a very tiny blanket, which blows about in the wind. They carry long spears which they throw short distances with great force, with which they can kill lions. They are a tall, brave, elegant and aristocratic race, utterly different from all the others, who fear them.

It started to rain. In between the heavy showers we got home, but Tom fairly caught it. When at last he arrived he was dripping and shining and bursting with triumph, having killed a lot of stuff including a wart-hog. Soon two porters appeared, having been chased off the wart-hog by two lions and lionesses. They were so terrified that they just flung down their loads and legged it for camp! Can't blame them. We shall get those lions soon, with any luck.

Wednesday 29th November 1922 - Kenya

Got a note from Blickie, who had gone out with Tom and Mello at about 4am to say we were all going to sit up in bomas [hides] tonight. There are worse places than a boma, I must day. It is as wide as a tent, sunk about two foot deep and built of leleshwa leaves, which smell delicious. Shaped like a little house, it has a waterproof sheet over the top, covered with leaves. We had our three mattresses and all the blankets; the door was blocked with thorns and covered with sacking, and there were three tiny windows to shoot through.

The others had seen eight lions this morning, so after lunch we arranged a beat up the ravine. We went ahead and sat in the grass patiently, without speaking or smoking for two and a half hours, but saw nothing at all. David, our excellent Cape Coloured head boy, peered into a thicket and told John a big black-maned ion was there. John couldn't see a single thing, it was pitch-black insdie the thicket, and while he was straining his eyes the lion and lioness slinked out the other side. A Masai, who had not seen them go out, stepped into the thicket and plunded about with his spear to drive them out. It makes one feel rather a fool to think of the guns and ammunition and fuss we have when we're after  a lion, and these Masai have nothing but their spears and are absolutely fearless!

We had dinner and then started off for the bomas. Less than ten minutes after we had settled down we heard the grunting roar and the padding feet of a lion just outside the boma. Tom was to have first shot, so I crouched on my mattress with my fingers in my ears. There was a roar and a glare of light whichy filled the boma, and then we saw that the lioness had dropped like a stone where she stood. Tom was wild with excitement. All the boys say the lioness is the biggest they've ever seen. (They always say that!).

Thursday 30th November 1922 - Safari, Kenya

I slept all day and tonight we went again to the boma. We settled down and waited, but there was no sign or sound so we went to sleep. Then, towards dawn, Tom woke me up and I looked out of the window and saw two lionesses feeding on our kill. They were very nervous, took a mouthful, then flung their heads and watched us. They saw my face in the boma and in a second had vanished. Then we heard a good deal of roaring - the husband, I suppose, telling his two wives they were fools. In a minute back they came. It was difficult to see, as there was no moon and no dawn. At last I saw a big-maned head lift up and look at me. I aimed at is as well as I could, and fired. He dropped, then we saw him raise his head and Blickie seized the rifle from me, but he dropped again and never moved. We gave him ten minutes, then went out and looked at him; he was quite dead, with a bullet through his brain. The sun got up, and the boys came over, all grins and joy. He is a big lion, wiht not a very good mane. But I feel very triumphant.

Friday 1st November 1922 - Safari, Kenya.

We are returning to the main camp now. Before dinner the natives gave an ngoma, a dance, in honour of the deaths of the lions. We stood by the fire and they came slowly up, crouching, stamping and roaring in rhythm, making the sound of a lion. Each boy carried a stick or a piece of leleshwa. They moved round and round us; and then I found that my thoughtful Jume had brought a chair for me, in which I gratefully sat. Instantly the boys rushed up, lifted me and the chair on their shoulders and carried me round in triumph, one holding my hand all the time, shaking it up and down. They went round with the same lifting movement, shouting and roaring and grunting and shaking their sticks. When they put me down there was another rush, and I shook hands with everybody. Then it was the others' turn.After that each tribe started a dance of its own. The Kikuyu boys in a small ring, jumping up and down, while one clapped in time;the Tanganyika boys, very tall and well-built, in a long line, also jumping up and down, while every now and then one would leap forward, twist and leap back again.But the best of all was a small group of Wakamba. They crouched in a ring, stepping in perfect time, shimmying and clapping their hands. One would spring out, twist and roll and fling himself backwards, curving his whole body, then rush back to his place, and the ring of quivering shoulders and stamping feet closed again. The firelight flickered and flared, lighting the whole wild scene.

Staffordshire Sentinel

Friday 1 December 1922

Talke Ambulance Division - Concert and Presentations.

An enjoyable gathering in connection with the Talke Division of the St. John Ambulance Association took place on Thursday evening, in St.Saviour's School, Talke, when a concert was held and presentations of awards made to the successful students at the last examination.

Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B., of Linley Hall, presided and expressed the pleasure it afforded him to take part in the proceedings. A knowledge of first-aid was very necessary in working-class district like their own. the members of the local division should, therefore, be encouraged in their efforts, and he wished them every success.

The number of member attending the classes during last term was 28, and the lecturer was Dr. Harris Jones. Major-General Heath-Caldwell presented the awards to the following successful students:- First year certificate; Luther Mobley,George Wiseblood, Frederick Hulme, Jesse Elsby, Peter Smith, Frederick Welsh, Joseph Brownsword,F.E.Higgins and Frederick George Bossons. - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Diary of Genesta continues....

Sunday 3rd December 1922 - Safari, Kenya.

Left Weke camp today and started off for the hills and the buffalo.We had lunch at the foot of the hills, and then rode up and up. The soil is sand, covered with layers of ash from all these volcanic hills. We reached the top, having come up two thousand feet, and saw a marvellous view with the whole plain spread wide below us to the far hills. The vegetation up here is quite different. Instead of yellow grass and groves of thorn trees, where two thorns grow out of a black ball of black ants, the grass here is green, and there are large, dark trees from which hang creepers and pale flowers.

A storm blew up and broke just as the boys pitched one tend, and we all crowded in and played the gramophone. It was very quaint to hear the little thing struggling through the crashing, roaring thunder, while lightning forked into the hills. A pile of natives crowded into the flies at one end of the tent, trying to keep fairly dry, and in the verandah were four Wandorobo squatting on their heels, with their little bits of blanket round their shoulders and their spears stuck up outside (so nice for lightning) and their swords and bows and arrows stuck in their bead belts, watching Blickie with adoring eyes. This is their country, but they all know and love him. 

Monday 4th December 1922 - Safari, Kenya

Arose this morning at the ghastly hour of three, and after a very quick breakfast started off for the buffalo. It was murderously cold, and my fingers and toes froze to the reins and stirrups. But it also looked very wonderful and mysterious, with a bright, cold moon lighting our line of mules, gun bearers, saices [grooms], and our little Wandorobo guide moving silently ahead, slipping between branches and over twigs and round trees without a sound. In the forest it was very dark, with splashes of moonlight here and there. We emerged from the trees now and then, into little plains. Still we went on, for over an hour; then quite suddenly the dawn broke, and - not every minute, but every second - the light grew, until, in a very short time, the sun was up. We separated, Tom going up one hill, Mello and Joseph up another, and Blickie and I in the centre.Later we found Mello and Joseph, who had been wandering about, they said, in the middle of a large herd of buffalo but never got a shot at them.We have now sent out Wandorobo scouts to mark down the various herds, since, as one of the old Wandorobo said, 'It is madness to take a white man to find the buffalo - they hear him while he is still the other side of the plain!'

Wednesday 6th December  1922 - Safari, Kenya

We moved camp a short way to a lovely spot, all trees and grass. Had an unsuccessful buffalo drive this morning, and walked for miles with John and Blickie up a hill where, from the top, we saw five cows and a big bull, but they must have winded John's after-lunch cocktail for they tossed up their heads and went crashing away. When we went back to camp we found Tom quivering with excitement, and Kongoni, his elderly gun bearer (who doesn't know his own age,but is certain he is more than seven) looking quite pale. Tom had fired at a young bull, and was tracking him, when he suddenly charged out of nowhere. Kongoni threw himself flat on the ground between Tom and the buffalo, and Tom fired at the buff with the 470 and killed him. Poor old Kongoni says he has had many escapes, but that was the narrowest; and he has a new god - Tom's 470!

Friday 8th December 1922 - Safari, Kenya

We left this camp today and felt quite sat at saying goodbye to our little Wandorobo friend, Joribi, who looks magnificent, small though he is, works splendidly, and is extremely nice.We had an extraordinary ride down steps a foot or two deep in the side of the hill, across a river (very shallow) andup the other side of the gorge, till we came down to the plains again. We stopped for lunch under a thorn tree, and were immediately attacked by the strangest insects: colossal ants and spiders, and horrid things exactly like bits of grass, with about four legs each side, which crawled everywhere, up our trousers and down our necks, and lifted their tails into the air like scorpians.There were praying mantises too, who jumped into our helmets for the food and held their little front legs up and looked pious. It was the most awful meal I have ever had,and I was thankful to get away from the beastly place.We are camped now on the plain under a little hill, with a fine view out to the gorge on one side, and the hills we have just left on the other. A boy came in from Kijabi this evening with news of a Masai rising at Endalele, which is in the hills about one and a half miles from our first camp. They have killed an Indian.

Saturday 9th December 1922, Safari, KenyaWe rode out to the gorge today. It is a strange place, and has the excellent name of Hell's Gates. The plain narrows into great cliffs two or three hundred feet high, all rocks where vultures and hundreds of swallows nest, and the pass is choked with rich vegetation. We saw a place where sulphur steam rises out of cracks in the ground. It was a real Rider Haggard scene, with these immense cliffs, the big trees and thick bush;and the clouds of steam shooting out of the rock, blowing here and there. The ground below is red and stony, and plants are withered. While we were on our way to lunch it began to rain. It rained like all the bath taps in the world turned on, and when we tried to have lunch, the food swam in the plates, which were overflowing with water, the chairs became lakes, the water cascaded off the table and we couldn't see the cliffs 200 feet away, the other side of the gorge. Then the cliffs we stood under began to crumble and we decided it would be nicer to drown than be squashed by a ton of stone, so we started home. We passed a spot where part of the cliff had slipped, trees were uprooted and great stones had rolled into the valley. Fifteen minutes after we left the sun came out, and dried everything, while away over the hills lightning forked and clouds were inky with rain.

We got a note from Mr Agate [a South African based at Kijabi] (Tom had gone there to shoot bongo) to say that the Masai are really making trouble; they have now killed several Indians adn two askaris, and the King's African Rifles are on their way to Endabele now. He told us to keep near the gorge or move up to Kijabi. This is a bad business for the Masai and we are very sorry about it. They are so brave and, like buffalo, when they get excited or threatened they fight instead of giving in. They haven't a chance against machine guns. They have been much provoked by other tribes and by the government trying to stop some of their less desirable habits, such as spear-blooding. I'm sure they were not frightened, but furiously angry. Also Diana Broughton's party, was coming through the Masia Reserve, where we are now, down to Tanganyika, will probably go north to the Guasso Nyero where we are bound and may get first shots at the game there.

Sunday 10th December 1922 - Safari, Kenya.

Started today for Kijabi and trekked along an endless mud track for twenty-four hours. We started at 7am, and got in at 4pm, taking and hour at lunchtime, so it wasn't bad going. At the station was Tom, who hadn't gone after bongo as his Wandorobo hadn't turned up. Two lion cubs came out of the cage and rolled about and played wiht me like kittens. It is quite comfortable in the waiting rooms, but there are fleas and stranger things which bit me all over, though I never saw one. The food here is good too. Mr Agate has been extremely kind, helping us in every possible way.

Monday 11th December 1922 - Nairobi, Kenya

It rains and rains, worse than Scotland. We got onto the 6am train and came to Nairobi, leaving Tom at Kijabi. Rain is unusual this time of year, as it should be the dry season between the big and little rains.In the Norfold Hotel I found a boy Keith (Caldwell) has got for me to replace Juma, who has not been satisfactory. I told Hamise, the new boy, to come back in the evening, and asked Blickie to catch the offending Juma and sack him before the other arrived. To my horror, when I came in to dress I found both boys lying in wait in the passage. I hadn't the faintest idea what to say to Juma, but Blickie did it quite simply. I heard him say 'Memsahib doesn't want you, she wants you.' Exit Juma! The last I saw of him was the poor old thing wandering out of the hotel with a stick under one arm and a bundle of clothes under the other, looking rather lost.

Staffordshire Sentinel

Tuesday 12 December 1922

Alsager Gold Club - First Annual Dinner

The first annual dinner and smoking concert in connection with the Alsager Golf Club was held in the club room of the Alsager Arms Hotel on Friday evening. The Captain Mr A.P. Tiley, occupied the chair, and he was supported by Sir Francis Joseph, Messrs R. Alcock, R. Arrowsmith, F.Beard, J.N. Bell, R. Billington, J.H. Boycott, J. Cook, F.C. Crimes, D'Arch B. Ellis (toastmaster), P. Ford, W.H. Heath, jun., James Henshaw . - - - - (continues) - - - - 

The menu card, on which was neatly embossed a representation of a gold ball, with the words "Why not," printed thereon, was quite original and the courses were amusingly set out. . - - - - (continues) - - - - 

The alterations, when completed, would improve the course wonderfully; it would be much longer, more variedmore difficult, and, therefore, more interesting and their hearty thanks were due to their President, General Heath-Caldwell for his kindness in allowing them to carry out the work. . - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Letters of apology for non-attendence were received from General Heath-Caldwell (President), Mr Hansley Gore, and other.

 Diary of Genesta continues....

Saturday 16th December 1922 - Kenya 

The safari has started for the north.Tom and I were motored to Thika by Keith (Caldwell) today. In spite of his lurid description of the road - endless motors, clouds of dust, telegraph poles, motor-bus service, etc - we saw none of these horrors. We joined the safari and went on.

Sunday 17th December 1922 - Fort Hill, Kenya

Camped at Fort Hill, where the Assistant Commissioner proved his hospitality by refusing to help us in any way whatever, and firmly refusing to let us have any firewood, or to let the jailors, who were close by, with nothing to do, get us any. We got on quite well without his help, however, and managed to have one or two fires - Mininguishi, our head-man, is a friend of the jailors.I have started wearing shorts and will have a lovely time breaking my knees in. I find them easier to run away in than trousers!

Monday 18th December 1922 - Tana Plains, Kenya

Got away at 6.45am, and safaried fifteen miles between breakfast and lunch to a place overlooking the Tana Plains, south of blue hills, and north to Kenya with its two peaks of snow. We were made welcome by the local Kikuya chief, Ngondo, a friend of Blickie's: a very handsome, stately old man with masses of bracelets, rings and ear-rings, who shook hands with us all, and at once sent out boys to watch for buffalo, to bring us firewood and milk. And, having heard us mention casually that the bananas at the last store were not good, to bring us bananas tomorrow morning - all as presents. What price the British ACC at Fort Hill?One of these curious men, with his hair in dozens of short plaits sticking up all over his head, came grinning to Blickie and said he knew him. Blickie told him he seemed to remember his ugly face, and it seems that some years ago, when B. was camping here, seventy-five porters ran away and the big chief (not Ngondo) sent this man with some Kikuyu, to act as porters and do everything for him. He had a very narrow chain on which were hung bits of hardened wood - his charms. One against lions, and two against tummy troubles, two against toothache, one against snakebit, and then a very precious one, so that when he says his prayers to Muungu, he should get what he wants. He must have been the local witchdoctor. The government has made this business illegal and tries to catch them, but the natives protect them out of fear.

Tuesday 19th December 1922, Kenya 

Blickie's friends come for miles to visit him, and sid round the fire wiht their spears stuck upright in the ground. Ngondo brought us two wives, one very sweet. The names the boys have given us are quaint. Tom is Mkubwa, the boss. Blickie is known all over Kenya as Wahoga, the man who is first in one place and then in another - the wanderer in fact. John is called Tumbo, fat one, also Mzei, old one, and they have decided he is my father! Joseph is Kidogo, little one - he is the same height as the others but a servant (they know at once) - and Mello is Kikono. As I am the only woman I haven't been promoted to a nickname, just Memsahib.

Monday 25th December 1922 - Christmas Day, Kochi, Kenya

Christmas Day. We have done a find trek today. Twenty miles, up and down almost perpendicular hills, and I walked for five and a half hours. I'm very pleased with myself. We got into camp at a place called Kochi and had a marvellous Christmas evening in a tent decorated with leaves and bright red flowers, the two lamps hanging on a rope whcih was twisted round with smilax, and an Xmas tree covered in snow from the medicine chest! We had a wonderful dinner, with a perfectly good plum pudding swimming in lighted brandy.

Wednesday 27th December 1922

Reached Meru today. The boys asked us to stay with them as they wanted to swagger in all together. Tom and the rest didn't think much of this, and went on ahead, so Blickie and I stayed wiht them, and made a triumphant entry, with the oryx horn blowing, with singing and dancing, and all the sticks beating on the loads in time. This is only a tiny place with a K.A.R. Station of 10 whites, a hospital the size of a hen house, and a few Indian dukas. It is the last station in the north, and the boys think it's a superb city.

There is a bad posho [food] shortage. Last night they had none, as we had run out, but they behaved very well and came on today with empty tummies. But to our horror the Indinas here told us there is none to be got, as 1,000 loads were bad and have been condemned by the Doctor; the K.A.R. have bought up 2,000 loads and there is no more. This evening I was sitting by the saice's fire, when I heard no end of a row. Wandered round with the head-man, and there, outside the gate of our camp (which has a little fence round it), were 20 or 30 boys, all howling and yelling for posho, while the old Askari stood guard inside the gate with is empty rifle (he has no cartridges) on his shoulder. Then did Mininguishi show the strength of an ox and the guile of a serpent. They didn't touch me, but crowed round him, yelling, but when he lifted his enormous hands as if he was going to hit them, they shrank away. Then he talked to them like a diplomat, and explained that if they eat all the posho given them for three days, in two day, that was their business and not 'Bwana Wahogal' business - wasn't it?'

They saw that and when he told them they would get posho tonight (which I thought optimistic of him) they said Msuri, good, and went off satisfied. Blickie meanwhile persuated the Indian - an old friend of his - to sell us 15 loads, enough for three days, so they had their feed tonight, and after all their savagery in the afternoon, were as happy as children.But the situation is very bad, as there is not nearly enough food for the K.A.R., alone as it is,  and everybody is going short. We had a dramatic conference this evening in the tiny mess-hut - Blickie and the others sitting round the table, while our enormous Mininguishi, two or three saices, and an Indian merchant discussed the whole thing; and Ahbdi held a lamp and listened. A quite good idea seem to be to scrap a lot of the boys and go with donkeys, which cost nothing to feed, and are the same price to buy as one boy's load of posho for a month.

Thursday 28th December 1922 - Kenya

It rained in the night, coming down in torrents, in bucketfuls; making a noise on the tents like a hundred small drums, falling in blinding sheets. It dosen't look as if we shall get away today. You can hardly stand up on the road and the tents are soaked, and will be too heavy to carry. We spent nearly the whole morning in the Indian duka, where the Indians were very kind and hospitable, giving us tea, biscuts, cigarettes and making me a present of a very nice box of chocolates. I can't think why everyone hates the Indians so, and boycotts them. They have always been very nice to us and are no worse cheats than other people.

Westerm Morning News

Thursday 28 December 1922

Naval Appointments. - - - - (continues) - - - - 

C.H. Heath-Caldwell to Thistle in command, on re-commissioning; . - - - - (continues) - - - - 

Diary of Genesta continues...

Sunday 31st December 1922 - Kenya 

The most ghastly thing has happened today - Tom has broken his right thigh! He was running after some birds, not looking at the ground, when he caught his toe on a stone, and fell, twisting the whole leg under him. Blixen and I had gone in the other direction after zebra when Tom's saice cantered up, saying the bwana had fallen and the gun bearer had sent him to find us.Tom was lying on the ground with his head in Kongoni's lap, one arm waving in the air, shouting and groaing with agony. We coud do nothing for him except sit on the ground with his head in my lap while Blickie held his hand. There is no morphia in the first aid box, and the medicine chest was at Isiolo with the safari. We sent out boys for it and the doctor and sat there with poor Tom, who grew whiter every moment, with sunken eyes and blue lips.

At last the medicine chest arrived and he swallowed two morphia tablets which relieved him a tiny bit. Some boys arrived and a tent was put over him; and at about 5.30pm the doctor came - not the Isiolo one but a man who was staying there a couple of nights on his way to Abyssinia. The doc had brought splints and chloroform and bandages, and with half an hour of daylight and one lamp started with the operation. Tom took the chloroform as badly as he could, fighting and gasping. He was worn out, and while they pulled the broken leg out and put the splints on his pulse and breathing grew weaker and weaker. At one moment I could feel nothing, and I thought he had gone. I was in a state of cold terror and the doc was frightened too. He pushed Tom's chest hard; he gave a half-groan and, after a second or two, started breathing again - but oh, so faintly! We got him onto a bed, lying on the boy's blankets and covered with our coats, and he came to very slowly.

The others had gone to the camp at Isiolo, and we sat down on the ground and ate the two beastly birds which had broken Tom's leg. We had sent to Isiolo for more boys with blankets, water, tea, etc., and expected them out by about 9pm. but the didn't come... and didn't come. The boys that were left - about six - went down one after another to wait and show them where we were. We had hardly any water left for Tom, the only lamp was very nearly out of paraffin, and still no boys came. Tom began to wake up and was very sick. But at about 12.30 or 1am, four blessed little lights appeared. I lay down on the ground and fell fast asleep, but Blickie never closed his eyes and looked after Tom all night.
Counterbalancing such amazing bad luck was extraordinary good luck. A simple fracture. It happened a few yards from the main road - such as it is - when it might have been in the Lorian swamp. We have got a very good doctor on the spot. Meru is only seventeen miles away. And Keith is arriving tomorrow.