Good morning, I'm researching a Robert James WATSON who was in the Indian Civil Service. Born Middelsex 1876, he served in the Boer War, and is first recorded in India in 1903, living in Calcutta in the militia, and was in the Civil Service from 1907. Below is all I have about his carrer in India and I would very much like to fill in some of the gaps but this is all I have found so far. He returned to the UK in the later '30s about which I have no further information. 1904/05 Assistant, Remington Typewriter Co. of 2 Pollock Street. {Th} 1907/12 Controller of Office Systems, Bengal Writers Building {Th} living at 7 Theatre Road, Belgaum 1908/10, then 37 Park Road, Barrackpore 1911-12 {Th} 1914/15 Inspector of Judicial offices, High Court, Calcutta {Th} 1916/20 Inspector of Judicial Offices, Imperial Commerce & Industry Buildings, 1 Council House Street {Th} 1918 living at Great Eastern Hotel, 1-3 Old Court House Street {Th} 1918 took 1 year civil/military leave in America during which time was Vice Consul in San Fransico, and applied for temporary work with the American War Dept., Washington 1920 Inspector of Judicial Offices (Bengal) 1st. June appointed Inspector of Office Proceedure for Gov. of India (taking the rank {?} in Article 52 in the Warrent of Precedence for India (notification 328 of 10/2/1899). 20th June Permitted to wear civil uniform of the third class (Home dept. Simla D.O. No. 1638-Public) 1921/23 Government of India Home Department (miscellaneous appointments) Simla, Inspector of Office Proceedure, Chairman of the staff selection board Volunteer service in India: 1903 Calcutta Volunteer Rifles 1911 Colour Sergeant, No. 7190 2nd. Battalion Calcutta Volunteer Rifles attended the Delhi Durbar (see medal roll OIC 1/mil/5/127 ) 1913 13th. Jan. appointed Captain to the 2nd. (Presidency) Battallion, Calcutta Volunteer Rifles, commissioned Captain 13th. January. Date of rank 1st May 1913; organised and commanded motor cycle machine gun unit in Calcutta 1916 last entry in Indian Army list, January. {OIOC} 1917 training troops; offered Majority (1927) ? General Manager for India & Burma, Wolseley Motors Ltd., Sandhurst Bridge Road, Chaupatty, Bombay (unconfirmed that this is Robert but possible especially as wife Amie [nee Jewel] was involved in importing American cars to India) Manager of Grand Hotel, Calcutta around 1932 when daughters married (film of reception). retired from India to Liverpool before WW2. No further information about his life. Interests (presummably the Calcutta branches): Astronomical Society of India Photographic Society of India His two daughters had a joint wedding at the (old) St. John's Cathedral, Calcutta 28th. March 1932. I would very much like to fill in some of the missing gaps in his careers and would appreciate any further assistance or suggestions. Unfortunately I am unable to visit the OIOC although they have been generous with their records. Thank you, Chris

Chris, The career line of Robert James Watson that you have drawn shows that he was employed in a civilian job as opposed to a military job. He does not seem to have been a member of the Indian Civil Service, a cadre of covenanted officers recruited through competition, for holding senior posts in the Indian bureaucracy of the Raj. I mention this so that you may not take a wrong turn in your research. Arvind Kolhatkar, Toronto, January 29, 2008.