Attention Mr. Stockdill: Perhaps you could give me some idea of what direction to take in finding out more about this situation: My husband's uncle was in the U.S. Army (I have their records) after the Spanish-American War, was in the Philippines, married a Filipino lady, had several children. In March 1920 he emigrated to British Cochin, Madras, South India, working for the Tata Oil Co.. In May 1921 he married Bertha Pitter, a British subject, in British Cochin; I realize that being labeled 'British subject' means she might have been from Ireland, Scotland, or England, which certainly complicates matters. In July 1923 he died there in India and was buried in the British cemetery at Madras. I've sent several letters to India and all have been returned to me for 'insufficient address,' 'no such address,' etc. A gentleman from India told us he was certain that the Tata corporation was still in business but I've been unable to find an address for it. I'd like to determine whether his uncle and Bertha had any children; he died while undergoing surgery, so I would like to find out what the surgery was for and the cause of death. >From his Army records, the military officials came to the conclusion that he was not, in fact, married to the Filipino lady, but maintained a 'common law' marriage with her; he did provide for his family in the Philippines through a service agency. All records in the Philippines, I am told, no longer exist. We have been able to contact a couple of his descendants from the Philippines, but they have no information about him either. The uncle was not well educated, but we have reason to believe he worked in the payroll department of the military while in service; the family background was farming and carpentry. We know nothing about Bertha Pitter, of course, and wonder how to go about finding out about her. What would have taken her to India in the 1920s? What kind of records might we expect to find and where would they be...in India or in England? Since the British were a large presence in India for quite a long time, are the records for those who served in India consolidated separately from others and where might one find them. I have logged on to the India-L forum several times with posting and have posted on a Philippines listing also, so far with no results. I've searched the India postings on cemeteries, etc., and not found his name, so I assume he has no burial stone. Any suggestions? Shirley/MN