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A. J. W. Kitchin

Arthur James Warburton Kitchin CIE (1870–1957) was a British officer in the Indian Civil Service (ICS), who served mainly in Punjab, where he held the post of deputy commissioner.

As commissioner of the Lahore Division in 1919, Kitchin was delegated by Sir Michael O'Dwyer to handle the disturbances in April 1919, and was subsequently censured by the Government of India following the Hunter Report. He later gave evidence in support of O’Dwyer during the 1924 O'Dwyer v. Nair Libel Case.

Early life and education

Kitchin was born in 1870, the youngest son of Rev. Joseph Laxton Kitchin of Teignmouth, Devon.[1][2] He was educated at Clifton College, and subsequently gained a maths scholarship to Pembroke College, Cambridge, passing the ICS examination in 1892.[3][4][5][6]

Career

Kitchin joined the ICS in November 1893 and reached India on 4 January 1894.[7] He served in Punjab as assistant commissioner in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Murree, and became assistant commissioner on settlement duty from November 1901 before becoming Deputy Commissioner in March 1904.[3] He married Mildred Sarah Maria Murray on 21 November 1907.[8] The Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire was awarded to him in 1917.[3] The following year he was appointed secretary to the Punjab Publicity Bureau.[3]

As commissioner of the Lahore Division in 1919, Kitchin supervised Amritsar's deputy commissioner, Miles Irving, and was delegated by Sir Michael O'Dwyer to handle the disturbances in April 1919.[9][10] In response, Kitchin made his own assessment of Amritsar and called Sir William Beynon to recruit an officer "not afraid to act".[9] Lieutenant-Colonel M. H. L. Morgan was dispatched, but Reginald Dyer arrived hours later and took control, sidelining Morgan.[9] On 14 April 1919, Kitchin was directed by O'Dwyer to visit Dyer and enquire about what happened the previous day.[11]

He was censured by the Government of India following the release of the Hunter Report, for his role in Amritsar on 10 April 1919,[9][12] and letting Dyer take over authority.[13] Kitchin retired in 1921 and returned to England.[3][9] In 1924 he gave testimony on behalf of O'Dwyer in the O'Dwyer v. Nair Libel Case.[3][9]

Death

Kitchin died in 1957.[1]

Selected publications

  • Final report of the revision of the settlement of the Rawalpindi district in the Punjab. Lahore, Civil and Military Gazette Press. 1909.

References

  1. ^ a b "Kitchin, Arthur James Warburton (1870–1957) civil servant in India". trin-2.maxarchiveservices.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Local News". Devon and Exeter Gazette. 9 July 1907. p. 8.
  3. ^ a b c d e f The India Office and Burma Office List for 1928. London: Harrison and sons, Limited. 1928. p. 684.
  4. ^ Journal of Education and School World. Oxford University Press. 1888. p. 99.
  5. ^ The Cambridge University Calendar. Cambridge: Deighton, Bell & Co. 1891. p. 557.
  6. ^ "Pembroke College". Cambridge Chronicle and Journal. 16 December 1887. p. 4. Retrieved 31 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ History of Services of Gazetted Officers Employed in the Punjab. "Civil & Military Gazette" Press. 1897. pp. 81–82.
  8. ^ A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage. London. 1934. p. 168.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ a b c d e f Collett, Nigel A. (2011). "The O'Dwyer v. Nair Libel Case of 1924: New Evidence Concerning Indian Attitudes and British Intelligence During the 1919 Punjab Disturbances". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 21 (4): 469–483. doi:10.1017/S1356186311000435. ISSN 1356-1863. JSTOR 41490046.
  10. ^ Wagner, p.68
  11. ^ Wagner, p.176
  12. ^ Wagner, pp.116-117
  13. ^ Wagner, p.247

Further reading

Bibliography

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