White Mischief

by James Fox

  1940

  November 5. Married Broughton in Durban. November 12. Arrived Nairobi.

  1943

  Married Gilbert Colvile (q.v.). Divorced 1955.

  1955

  Married Tom, 4th Baron Delamere (q.v.). Lives at Soysambu, Elmenteita. Kenya.

  Carberry. June née Mosley. b. 1912. Third wife of John Carberry (q.v.). m. 1930. Struck up immediate friendship with Diana on latter’s arrival in Nairobi.

  Gwladys. Lady Delamere (pronounced “Gladys”) nee Beckett, b. 1898. m. 1: 1920. Sir Charles Markham: 2: l928..Hugh. 3rd Baron Delamere (q.v.). 1938. Mayor of Nairobi. Died 1943.

  de Trafford. Alice nee Silverthorne. b. 1900. American heiress, m. 1922. Conite Frédéric de Janzé (q.v.). Arrived Kenya 1925. Divorced 1927. Shot and wounded Raymond de Trafford (q.v.) and herself at Gare du Nord. Paris. 1927. Acquitted of attempted murder. Married de Trafford 1932. Separated after three weeks. Decree nisi. 1937. Died 1941. Gilgil. Kenya.

  Dickinson. Hugh b.1906. Educated Harrow. Posted to Kenya in Royal Army Signals Corps. 1941. Close friend of Diana. Lives in London.

  Poppy. Arthur Head of Nairobi C.I.D. in 1941. Ex-Scotland Yard, sent to Kenya to organise fingerprint department.

  Soames. John Beoucroft (“Jack”) b. 1883. Settler farmer at Nanyuki. Eton contemporary of Broughton.

  Wilks. Dorothy South African personal maid hired to look after Diana at house in Karen. Retired to Durban. South Africa.

  OTHER FIGURES IN THE KENYA LANDSCAPE. 1920–41

  Bowles. Patricia Alice de Trafford’s closest friend. Now living at Kiliti.

  Carberry. John b. 1892 as John Evans-Freke. Succeeded as Lord Carbery 1898 (family name Carberry). Educated Harrow, Trinity. Cambridge. Navy. 1914. 1919. became U.S. citizen. 1920. Nairobi, dropped title and changed name by deed poll to John Evans Carberry. m. I: 1914, Jose Metcalfe. divorced 1919: 2: 1922. Maia Anderson who died 1928, piloting her plane: 3: 1930. June Weir Mosley of Johannesburg.

  Carberry, Juanila b.1926. Daughter of John and Maia Carberry. Lives in Mombasa. Kenya.

  Hugh Cholmondeley. 3rd Baron Delamere b. 1870. Pioneer leader of the settlers, farmer and politician. 1897. first visit to Kenya. 1903. first settler given right to buy land, at Njoro. m. I: 1899. Lady Florence Cole; 2: 1928. Gwladys Markham. ex-wife of Sir Charles Markham. Died 1931.

  Tom Cholmondeley, 4th Baron Delamere b.1900. Educated Eton (with Erroll). m. I: 1924. Phyllis Anne. d. of Lord George Scott: 2: 1944. Ruth Mary Clarisse. d. of 1st Baron Mount Temple: 3: Diana Colvile. d. of Seymour Caldwell. Died 1979.

  Colvile. Gilbert de Préville b. 1888. Educated Eton (with Broughton and Lord Francis Scott). One of the biggest cattle ranchers in the country. m.1943, Diana Broughton.

  de Janzé. Comte Frédéric Author of Vertical Land. Married Alice Silverthorne in Chicago. 1922. Divorced 1927.

  de Trafford, Raymond Playboy. 1924. met Alice de Janze on her honeymoon in Kenya. 1927. wounded by Alice, Gare du Nord. 1932. married Alice. Separated same year. Decree nisi. 1937. Gaoled three years for manslaughter, 1939.

  Drury Nina née Layman. Formerly married to Jack Soames (q.v). 1927. Now living in London.

  Lady Idina, Countess of Erroll nee Sackville b. 1893. Daughter of Earl De La Warr. Changed names six times in five marriages to Gordon. Wallace. Hay. Erroll. Haldeman, Soltau. Married Josslyn Hay. later Earl of Erroll. 1924. Divorced 1930. Her house. Clouds, near Gilgil. was the centre of Happy Valley. Died 1955.

  Erskine. Sir Derek Managing Director of Erskine and Duncan Ltd. Nairobi. Supporter of Kenyatta pre-independence. Died 1977.

  Gregory. Dr. Joseph Irish general practitioner favoured by Nairobi society.

  Lezurd. Julian (“Lizzie”) South African Davis Cup tennis player. Gambler, undischarged bankrupt. Sent to Kenya by his wife and friends. 1939. Posted to Cairo. 1941.

  Long.Paula neé Gellibrand. Celebrated beauty. Married to “Boy” Long. Elmenteita rancher. Close friend of Alice de Trafford (q.v.). Living in Oxfordshire. England.

  Pembroke. Richard (“Dickie”) Major. Coldstream Guards. After affair with brother officer’s wife, applied for transfer to Kenya. 1940. according to regimental etiquette. Lover of Alice de Trafford. succeeding Lezard (q.v.).

  Portman, Hon. Gerald later Lord Portman. At Eton with Enroll and Tom Delamere. On active service in Nairobi in 1940.

  Repton. Dushka Russian exile. Formerly married to Guy Repton. settler farmer. Friend of Nina Drury (q.v.). Now living in London.

  Lord Francis Scon Younger son of Duke of Buccleuch. b.1879. Eton contemporary of Broughton. Colvile (q.v). Soldier settler from early 1920s. Became leader of settlers after death of Hugh Delamere. 1931. m. 1915. Lady Eileen, nee Elliott, daughter of Earl of Minto.

  Eileen. Lady Francis Scon see above.

  Wirewater. Nancy pseudonym for Erroll’s current mistress in 1940.

  INDEX

  Abdullah bin Ahmed, 98, 132, 155, 289–91

  Abyssinian campaign, 2, 53

  Afghan Princess, 284–6

  Aga Khan, 54, 287

  Alfred (Broughton’s servant), 89

  Allen, Bill, 217, 233

  Allen, David, 283

  Allen, Petal, 38, 89, 283, 313

  Allen, Victor de Vere, 106–7

  Altrincham, Lady, 34, 75

  Amory, Mark, 153

  Anderson, Maia, 74

  Andrew, Albert, 237–8

  Antrim, Earl of, 62–3, 69, 315

  Band, Jack, 200

  Barkas, Phyllis, 89, 91, 92, 112, 169, 211

  Beauchamp, Sir Brograve, 62

  Begg, David, 38–9

  Bergeret, 24, 195

  Bewes, Anstis, 95, 168, 171–2, 187, 213

  Bhopal, Nawab of, 230–1

  Blixen, Karen, 10, 18, 47, 54, 270

  Block, Jack, 158, 159

  Blundell, Sir Michael, 158, 272

  Bowles, Eustace, 251

  Bowles, Patricia, 41, 42, 43, 51–2, 55, 213, 214, 218–19

  British Union of Fascists, 51, 161

  Brooks’s (London club), 232

  Broughton, Diana, see Caldwell, Diana

  Broughton, Sir Evelyn Delves, 63–4, 249–50, 266

  Broughton, Sir Jock Delves, background, 58–64; marriage to Diana, 65, 66–72, 76–7; alleged insurance frauds, 69–70, 158–9, 162–3, 259–66; marriage pact with Diana, 72, 207, 243; goes to Kenya with Diana, 73, 76–8; and Diana’s affair with Erroll, 78–93; on Erroll, 79–80: and Erroll’s murder, 97–102, 103–5; goes on safari, 102: arrested, 105–8; trial, 110–35, 144–5; rumours of his guilt, 158–9: conspiracy theory, 161, 178, 190–2: after the trial, 162, 227 as suspect, 169; alibi, 164–5, 167, 172–3, 175–6, 235–6, 282; Lady Delamere’s evidence, 181–8: Soames’s evidence, 189–94; Miss Wilks’s evidence, 202–6: Valerie Ward’s evidence, 210–12; and Alice de Trafford, 214; Lord Carnarvon on, 220–4: Dickinson on, 245–8; return to England, 249–51; confessions, 251–3, 255, 312–14, 316, 318: Mrs. Woodhouse on, 253–6; Erskine’s suspicions of, 283–4; Diana’s interview with Fox, 298–301, 304–6; Juanita Carberry’s memories and, 310, 312–15; reasons for murder, 315–18; death, 256–8

  Broughton, Randall Delves, 147

  Broughton, Rosamund, 254

  Broughton, Vera, 24, 58–71, 102; and Lord Moyne, 62, 254; divorce, 70, 99, 234, 239; Lord Carnarvon on, 222–4; Broughton wants to return to, 251, 306; and

  Broughton’s death, 257

  Buchanan Jardine, Jock, 223

  Burgess, Guy, 6, 142

  Butcher, 168–9

  Buzzard, Sir Farquhar, 58

  Byng, Elizabeth, 36

  Caldwell, Diana (later Broughton; Colvile; Delamere), marries Broughton, 64–72: marriage pact with Broughton, 71–2, 207, 209, 243; goes to Kenya, 73, 76–9; affair with Erroll, 78–93: and Erroll’s murder, 97–102: goes on safari, 102; and Broughton’s arrest, 105–6; at Broughton’s trial, 110, 111–12, 117, 120: Broughton’s evidence at his trial, 127–32; visits Ceylon, 135: fascination for Connolly, 147–
8; as possible suspect, 160, 169, 208; pearls, 162–4, 259–62, 263; and Gwladys Delamere’s evidence, 176, 181–8; Miss Wilks’s evidence, 202–7; after the trial, 228–30, 231, 233–8, 240–1; Dickinson’s devotion to, 67, 73, 243, 244–6, 266: later life, 269–80, 289; interviews with Fox, 279–80, 292–307

  Caldwell, Mrs. 65, 149–50

  Caldwell, Seymour, 65

  Cameron, James, 21

  Carberry, John, 99–100, 173, 189–90, 232; background, 73–6; as possible suspect, 169, 208; alibi, 178: character, 195, 198–9; treatment of his daughter, 309–10, 312

  Carberry, Juanita, 98, 99, 100, 308–16, 318

  Carberry, June, 73, 84, 108, 114: background, 74–5; and Erroll’s affair with Diana, 81, 86, 87–8, 89, 90, 91–3; and Erroll’s murder, 97, 99, 100–1; unreliability as witness, 104; and Broughton’s trial, 117, 118, 145; as possible suspect, 160, 169, 208; and Broughton’s alibi, 165, 172, 175, 176, 236, 282; last years, 173, 312; Miss Wilks’s evidence, 202–6; Valerie Ward’s evidence, 210–12; after the trial, 227 232; Diana’s interview with Fox, 304–5

  Cardross, Lord, 12

  Carnarvon, Earl of, 62, 220–6, 232

  Castlerosse, Valentine, Viscount, 59, 60, 66

  Cavendish Bentinck, Sir Ferdinand, 52, 80–1

  Ceylon, 230, 231, 300–1

  Chamberlain, Neville, 52

  Cholmondeley, Hugh (later Lord Delamere), 279: see also Delamere, Hugh Cholmondeley

  Cholmondeley, Tom, see Delamere, Tom Cholmondeley

  Churchill (ballistics expert), 160

  Churchill, Sir Winston, 15

  Clouds, 33–5, 39–40

  Crates, Kenneth, 284

  Cole, Berkeley, 12, 18, 38

  Cole, Galbraith, 12

  Colvile, Diana, see Caldwell, Diana

  Colvile, Gilbert, 236–7, 238, 240–1, 271–4, 287–8, 289, 300–1, 302, 306

  Colvile, Sarah (“Snoo”), 273, 294

  Condon, Leslie, 94–5

  Connolly, Cyril, interest in Erroll murder, 3–4, 6, 64–5, 139–80 passim: suspects Lady Delamere of writing anonymous notes, 152–3, 184–8; on Soames’-s evidence, 191–2; on Valerie Ward’s evidence, 211–12; interview with Dickinson, 243–8: interview with Mrs. Woodhouse, 253–6; meets Diana, 277–9; interview with Juanita Carberry, 308–11, 312, 314

  Connolly, Deirdre, 142, 166

  Convention of Associations, 51

  Cranworth, Lady, 9, 10

  Cranwonh, Lord, 9–10, 12, 16

  Crewe, Quentin, 149, 159, 251

  Daily Express, 259–60

  Daily Mirror, 149

  Daily Nation (Nairobi), 139, 142

  d’Avigdor-Goldsmid, Lady, 229–30

  Debrett’s Peerage, 155, 157

  Delamere, Diana, see Caldwell, Diana

  Delamere, Gwladys, 61, 76, 81: background, 53–4; and Erroll’s affair with Diana, 83–4, 86: and Erroll’s murder, 98, 99: and Broughton’s trial, 117, 119–21, 176, 232: alleged author of anonymous notes, 152–3, 184–8: as possible suspect, 160, 169, 181–8, 208: alibi, 178: on Broughton, 315: death, 173, 188

  Delamere, Hugh Cholmondeley, 3rd Baron, 20, 22, 23, 25, 61, 104, 183, 273: background, 13, 16–18: and the Muthaiga Club, 27: marriage, 53: death, 186

  Delamere, Mary, 274

  Delamere, Tom Cholmondeley, 4th Baron, 269, 272, 273–4, 275, 276, 294, 298, 301–2

  Delavigne, Doris, 66

  Devonshire, Duke of, 20

  Dickinson, Hugh, 80, 84–5, 104, 114–15: devotion to Diana, 67, 73, 243, 245–6, 266: and Broughton’s insurance frauds, 69, 261–6; alibi, 102, 174, 178, 246, 247–8, 264: at Broughton’s trial, 113: as suspect, 208; after the trial, 232, 241; interview with Connolly, 244–8; on Broughton, 317

  Djinn Palace (Oserian), 48–50, 234–5, 272, 287

  Doddington Park, 59, 61–2, 69, 250–1, 253–5

  Drury, Nina, 39–40, 43, 45, 77–8, 195

  Edward, Prince of Wales, 28, 37, 53–4, 184

  Eliot, Sir Charles, 12

  Elliott, Chief Inspector, 172

  Enniskillen, Earl of, 12

  Equator Ranch, 16

  Erroll, Diana (Dinan), Countess of, 108–9, 150

  Erroll, Idina, Countess of, 2, 81, 238: marriage to Erroll, 32–3: life at Clouds, 33–6, 39–40: and Josslyn’s affair with Alice de Janzé, 45; divorce, 48, 49: death, 173

  Erroll, Josslyn Hay, Earl of, 29; background, 30–3; appearance, 30–1, 38; and Lady Idina Gordon, 32–4; life in Kenya, 37–41: affair with Alice de Janzé, 41, 42, 47, 213: marriage to Molly Ramsay-Hill, 48–50, 51–2; political life, 50–1, 52–3: and Broughton, 61; affair with Diana Broughton, 78–93; murder, 1–3, 94–102, 108: Broughton suspected of murdering, 103–6; Cyril Connolly’s interest in his murder, 3–4, 6, 64–5, 142–80 passim: photographs of murder, 151–2, 153, 167–8: possible political motive for murder, 160–2; possible suspects, 169–71; Gwladys Delamere’s evidence, 181–8; Miss Wilks’s evidence, 202–6: Valerie Ward’s evidence, 210–12; Lord Carnarvon on, 224–5; Dickinson on, 245–6: Broughton confesses to murder of, 252–3, 255–6, 312–14, 316, 318; Diana’s interview with Fox, 297–9, 300, 301, 303–5, 306

  Erroll, Molly, Countess of, see Ramsay-Hill, Molly

  Erskine, Sir Derek, 28, 37, 88, 283–4

  Erskine, Francis, 89

  Erskine, Lady, 283

  Eton, 4, 31, 59, 63, 146–7, 151

  fascism, 50–1, 161

  Fentum, Inspector, 95, 97

  Fielden, Jack, 54–5

  Finch Hatton, Denys, 18, 24, 38

  First World War, 19

  Fisher, Derek, 27, 75, 210

  Fitzgerald, Mary Ann, 289

  Forbes, Alastair, 214

  Fox, Maurice, 122–4, 170

  Fraser, Lady Antonia, 174, 275–7, 295

  Furneaux, Rupert, 145

  Gecaga, Udi, 282

  Gilgil, 11, 19

  Githii, George, 142–3

  Gloucester, Duke of, 270, 284–5

  Gordon, Lady Idina, see Erroll, Idina, Countess of Grant, Nellie, 50–1

  Grant Sturgis, Sir Mark, 232

  Gregory, Dr Joseph, 52, 126, 158, 174

  Greswolde Williams, Frank, 36

  Grogan, Ewart, 12, 104, 245–6, 263

  Hall, Molly, 239–41

  Hamilton Berners, Captain, 60

  Happy Valley, 2–3, 25, 33–41

  Harragin, Lee, 159

  Harragin, Walter, 105, 112, 114–18, 121, 125–31, 159, 160, 163, 167, 179, 180, 191–2, 193, 247

  Harriet, 68–9, 70, 71

  Harwich, Ernest, 122, 123–4, 170–1, 181, 187

  Havelock, Sir Wilfred, 53

  Heath, Jacko, 92–3, 164, 210

  Hemingway, Ernest, 199, 270

  Hill, Tom, 308

  Hilton, Jack, 272, 273

  Hindlip, Lord, 12

  Hitler, Adolf, 52–3

  Hodson, Rose, 152–3, 186

  Hoogterp, Cockie, 37, 71

  Hopcraft, John; 232, 234, 271

  Horne, Alan, 251–3

  Hunter, John, 102, 300

  India, 230–1, 300

  Irving, Francis, 181

  Irving, Margot, 181–2

  Janzé, Alice de, see Trafford, Alice de

  Janzé, Count Frédéric de, 25–6, 35–6, 40, 41–5, 194

  Johnston, Sir Charles, 56

  Jones, Tim, 141

  Kaplan, Lazarus, 105, 113, 158, 159–60, 174, 175–6, 182, 190, 227, 233, 241, 274

  Kenmare, Enid, 66

  Kent, Duke of, 37

  Kenyatta, Jomo, 28, 142–3, 269, 274, 275, 281

  Kikuyu, 11, 14, 19, 178, 269, 282

  Kilifi, 277, 278–9, 289–90

  Kilmamock, Lord, 151, 152

  Knapitsch, Baron, 271, 287–8

  Lafone, Michael, 36, 37

  Lampson, Miss, 82

  Legislative Council, 19–20, 52, 171

  Leslie Melville, Eileen, 159

  Leslie Melville, Jock, 159

  Lettow-Vo
rbeck, Count von, 19

  Lezard, Julian “Lizzie,” 55–7, 90, 113, 169, 173, 178, 211, 213–15, 232

  Llewellin, Captain “Long John,” 92, 113, 165, 169, 173, 178, 210, 211

  Londesborough, Hugo, 223

  Londiani, 19

  Long, “Boy,” 41, 77

  Long, Paula, 40–1, 46, 55, 77, 81, 182, 184, 235–6, 315

  Losch, Tilly, 226

  Luali, Constable, 94–5

  Lugard, Lord, 15

  McCrae family, 237–8

  Mcllvray, Freddie, 247

  Maclean, Donald, 6, 142

  MacMillan, Lady, 47

  MacMillan, Sir Northrup, 12, 47

  Markham, Sir Charles, 53

  Martineau, Sybil, 54

  Masai, 10, 11, 14, 17–18, 236–7, 282, 301

  Mau Mau, 34, 285

  Maugham, Somerset, 143

  May, Inspector, 97

  Miles, Tich, 27

  Mohammed (Broughton’s servant), 89

  Mombasa, 10, 239–42, 310–12, 314

  Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Sir lain, 150–1

  Moore, Sir Henry “Monkey.” 105

  More O’ Ferrall, Rory, 69, 245, 246

  Morris, Harry, 110, 134, 158, 169, 227 247–8, 298, 306, 317: style in court, 113–14: cross-examination of Gwladys Delamere, 119–20, 183, 187: ballistics evidence, 121–6: cross-examination of Broughton, 126–7, 130, 209: political assassination theory, 161: and Soames’s evidence, 190

  Mosley, Lady Diana, 161

  Mosley, Sir Oswald, 32, 50, 161

  Motion, Vemon, 65, 274

  Moyne, Lord, 62, 70, 105, 222–3, 234, 254

  Mussolini, Benito, 2, 51

  Muthaiga Country Club, 3, 25–8, 36, 37, 39, 41, 76, 233–4, 267–9, 275

  Mutiso Wa Thathi, 112–13

  Myers, Denzil, 210

  Naivasha, 11, 19

  Naivasha, Lake, 234–5, 286–7

  Nakuru, 11, 19, 37

  Napier, Mrs. 171–2

  Nihill, Lady, 239

  Njonjo, Charles, 270, 285

  Njoro, 13, 19

  Orchardson, Arthur, 284

  Oserian, see Djinn Palace

  Overton, Captain Thomas, 121

  Paul, Prince of Yugoslavia, 287

  Pembroke, Major Richard (Dickie), 80–2, 92, 113, 121, 164, 174, 178, 213–19, 232

  Perowne, Victor, 31

  Pilkington, Mark, 69, 245, 246, 261, 270

  Pogrund, Benjamin, 173