Reginald Philip Abigail

Reginald Philip Abigail (1892–1969), often referred to as R. P. Abigail, was a senior British officer in the Indian Civil Service in Burma, District Commissioner of Arakan during the early stages of the fall of Burma in 1942[1] and, at the start of his civil service career, an author and surveyor on the townships and settlements of Burma.[2][3] When the Japanese bombing raids on Akyab in Arakan began in earnest in March 1942, Abigail drew criticism for leaving his post and departing Burma on board HMIS Indus bound for Calcutta.[4]

Biography

Reginald Philip Abigail was born in India[5] on 11 August 1892, the son of Reverend W. J. Abigail.[6][7] He was educated at Trent College and Bedford Modern School.[6][7]

At the outbreak of World War I, Abigail enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force[8] before transferring to the Indian Army with the 2/7th Gurkhas, a regiment he left as a Captain in 1923.[9][10][11][12][13]

On 29 October 1923, Abigail joined the Indian Civil Service through open competition.[14] Following in the same vein as some of the work he conducted as a Gurkha,[15] Abigail initially worked as an author and surveyor on the townships and settlements of Burma.[2] He remained in Burma for most of his career and was later appointed Assistant Commissioner,[16] Officiating Undersecretary to the Government in 1925 and a Deputy Commissioner in 1931 and 1940.[7]

Abigail was Commissioner of Arakan during the early stages of the fall of Burma in 1942.[1] When the Japanese bombing raids on Akyab began in earnest, Abigail left his post on 30 March 1942[17] and departed from Burma to Calcutta on board HMIS Indus,[4] a decision that has been described by some historians as controversial particularly as his departure was a month prior to the physical invasion by the Japanese and his ship allegedly failed to return to collect other residents in Arakan.[18] However, HMIS Indus is known to have returned to Akyab but was attacked and sunk by the Japanese on 6 April 1942.[18]

After the fall of Burma, Abigail worked in the Ministry of Supply in New Zealand. He retired from the Civil Service in 1945 and died in London in 1969.[19][20]

Selected bibliography
  • Report on the Third Settlement of the Pa-an and Hlaingbwe Townships together with the First Settlement of Newly Surveyed Areas in the above Townships of the Thaton District, Season 1928–30. By R.P. Abigail (with maps). Published Rangoon, 1931[21]
  • Report on the Summary Settlement Operations of the Gangaw, Tilin and Saw Townships, Pakôkku District, December 1930 – May 1931. By R.P. Abigail (with maps). Published, Rangoon, 1934[22][23][24]

References
  1. Leigh, Michael D. (24 April 2014). The Evacuation of Civilians from Burma. google.co.uk. ISBN 9781441163943. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  2. "Results for 'au:Abigail, Reginald Philip,' [WorldCat.org]". worldcat.org. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  3. "Who's-who—India ..." google.co.uk. 1927. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. Leigh, Michael D. (24 April 2014). The Evacuation of Civilians from Burma. google.co.uk. ISBN 9781441132475. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  5. 1901 England Census
  6. "Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes". google.co.uk. 1969. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  7. "The India Office and Burma Office List". google.co.uk. 1947. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  8. "Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes". google.co.uk. 1969. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  9. MacKay, James Noble (1962). "History of 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles". google.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  10. British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914–1920
  11. "Pioneer Mail and Indian Weekly News". google.co.uk. 1919. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  12. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32074/page/9697/data.pdf
  13. Shakespear, Leslie Waterfield (1929). "History of the Assam Rifles". google.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  14. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32860/page/6062/data.pdf
  15. "tour report on expedition to Dibang River in the Lushan Hills, North East Frontier..." Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  16. "The India Office and Burma Office List". google.co.uk. 1928. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  17. Donnison, F. S. V. (1956). "British Military Administration in the Far East, 1943–46". google.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  18. "The Evacuation of Civilians from Burma". google.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  19. "Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records at Ancestry.co.uk". ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  20. "Abigail, R P (1892–1969), 2/7 Ghurkas Regiment, Indian Civil Service Burma Office". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  21. Report on the Third Settlement of the Pa-an and Hlaingbwe Townships together with the First Settlement of Newly Surveyed Areas in the above Townships of the Thaton District, Season 1928–30. By R.P. Abigail. [With maps.] worldcat.org. OCLC 559569088.
  22. Report on the Summary Settlement Operations of the Gangaw, Tilin and Saw Townships, Pakôkku District, December 1930 – May 1931. By R.P. Abigail. [With maps.] worldcat.org. OCLC 559569008.
  23. "Lai Su Thai". google.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  24. "South-East Asian Linguistics". google.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.


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