He organised the Carrier Corps for the campaign in 'German East'

Oscar - 'Mrs Hinde [wife of Coast PC in 1908] took an immediate liking to this new cadet, to his lean and athletic build, his piercing blue eyes set wide under a high forehead, his curly corn-coloured hair refusing to lie down. She liked his courteous manner and quick repartee, and showed her approval by enrolling him as a member of her book club. He would, she thought, suit her younger sister nicely. Women everywhere fell for him; more than 20 years later, the young Margery Perham likened him to 'a Greek God', and refused other invitations in order to accompany him.' Joined Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry as a volunteer to fight in the Boer War, took part in the relief of Mafeking and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. In 1902 signed on as a trooper in the South African Mounted Constabulary for a 5 year contract. Later worked for Pretoria municipality as a clerk. Sailed for EA in Dec. 1907. First posted to Malindi then appointed to sub-district of Takaungu. June 1909 - sent to Rabai. On his second tour he returned to the coast, first Samburu and then back to Takaungu. In 1911 he was posted to Kiambu as one of two ADCs, then, after only 3 months, back to the coast to Kipini as acting DC. In Nov. 1911, posted to Mumias under H.H. Horne. Ainsworth moved him to Kakamega and then was moved into Kisumu as a DC. In 1913 he was seconded as the inspector of Coast Lands. In 1914 he was instructed to set up the Carrier Corps. ............ He had captained the Oxford eight in shooting at Bisley. ........... On return from home leave in 1920 he took up his new job of Deputy Chief Native Commissioner. ...... falling out with Northey regarding the issue of forced labour at the time of Ainsworth's notorious circular which was made more forceful by Northey and issued over Ainsworth's name without his consent. ........ G.V. Maxwell succeeded Ainsworth being appointed from Fiji over Oscar's head and Oscar had serious differences of opinion with him. ............. punished by Grigg for disagreeing with policies by being appointed stand-in PC at Mombasa in 1927. ....... he was ill with pernicious anaemia ....... by the end of 1929 he was PC of Eldoret. ............  Margery Perham wrote - 'He is a fine looking creature, rather Greek in line of head and neck with burnished red-gold hair, a man of much thinking and reading and so interesting to talk to that I see that, while staying with him, I shall neither desire nor achieve even half the night for sleep.' ........................ PC in charge of Masailand at Ngong.

Perham - 1929 - Eldoret - stayed with Lt.-Col. O.F. Watkins, PC of a mainly settler province - he was formerly the leading official in the Native Administration, acting Chief Native Commissioner ....... I understand that he was generally so pro-native that he has been demoted, taken off native work, and put into a largely settled province. He is a beautiful creature with a fine, sensitive face, red-gold hair and thoughtful eyes and his house is full of good pictures. ........ the succession to the Chief Native Commissioner's post was snatched from him and he was even demoted among the PCs. He pretends detachment. But I can see that his heart burns. He is a fine looking creature, rather Greek in line of head and neck with burnished red-gold hair, a man of much thinking and reading and so interesting to tallk to.

Debrett - was in S. African Constabulary 1902-4, Colonial Sec's Office Transvaal 1904-7 and Assist. Dist. Commr, BEA 1908-14, when he became Dist. Commr.; acted as Ch. Native Commr., Kenya Colony 1920-21, since when he has been Dep. Ch. Native Commr.; S. African War 1900-1901 with Oxford Univ. Contingent of Oxfordshire L.I., GEA 1914-19 as Director of Mil. Labour with rank of Lieut.-Col. (despatches 4 times, DSO, CBE)

KAD 1922 - District and Resident Commissioner and Resident Magistrate, Nairobi, Principal Labour Inspector

Red 25 - Vice-President Kenya Civil Service Rifle Club

Pioneers - The Watkins of Wispers Farm - Veronica Hughes - The year was 1923 and it was pouring with rain when Oscar and Olga Watkins, my father and mother, bought Wispers from Newton Wilson. The old house on stilts was so filthy that Olga decided to abandon it and start again elsewhere. That is where we are now. There was no money so Olga cut sanji grass and sold it; this enabled her to employ a Seychellois mason. He was a marvellous man who could turn his hand to anything. She then advertised that she would undertake 'any building job that no one else would do'. As a result most of her commissions were for long drops, ie earth latrines. Her clients would come to Wispers to be shown a selection and quoted prices. Those with stable doors and well sited for a view cost a little more. On one occasion she pointed to our own 'little house' and said: 'Well, you can have that just as it stands for £5'. Whereupon my father's voice from within said: 'Thanks'. He always spoke of this as the occasion when his wife sold him for £5 thrown in with the long drop. ……. [more] Oscar came out in 1904 as an Assistant District Commissioner, after serving in the Boer War. He had graduated from Oxford with a double first and was elected a Fellow of All Souls. His chief interests were history and the classics. He became one of Kenya's best Swahili scholars and was an examiner for many years. He met Olga in 1916, a widow of 23 whose husband had been killed in action in the first three months of the war. She received news of this on their farm at Koru by African drum three weeks before the official telegram reached her, She left the farm and became a VAD in Nairobi. Oscar became Chief Native Commissioner with a seat in the Legislative Council. In 1941 Olga was elected to Legco as member for Kiambu, with an overwhelming majority. Oscar was then a member in his official capacity, and she was told that they could not have husband and wife sitting on opposite benches. But she remained in Legco until her sudden death in December 1947. Oscar had died in December 1943.

CO 533/371/3 - Confidential Reports 1927 - A good report, though is inclined to be difficult with his superiors. Stated to be well fitted for the post of Chief Native Commissioner

Gazette - 4/11/1914 - Appt. - Carrier Corps - To be Officer in Charge with rank of Captain - O.F. Watkins

Gazette - 11/8/1915 - Appt. - EA Transport Corps (Carrier Section) - To be Deputy Assistant Director of Transport (Carrier Corps) - Captain Oscar Ferris Watkins, EATC

Dominion - Senior Provincial Commissioner, 1st Class - 1930

Red Book 1912 - O.F. Watkins - Kyambu - Tanaland Province - Asst. DC at Lamu

Gazette - 12/11/1919 - Register of Voters - Nairobi, South Area - Oscar Ferris Watkins - Civil Servant - The Hill and Mrs Olga Watkins - The Hill

Mills Norfolk - story of start of romance between Oscar and Olga

Gazette - 21/2/1933 - Departed on leave prior to retirement - Col. O.F. Watkins CBE, DSO