Harold went to India in 1890 to visit his Uncle Walter Marsh Osmond, who worked as an Assistant for Messrs Mackintosh, Burn & Co., contractors, surveyors, architects & builders. Thacker’s Indian Directory shows that by 1892, his Uncle was a partner in the firm & Harold, together with his cousin Walter William Osmond, were Assistants.

In a letter to his father dated January 11th 1892, he confirms that he was working for the ‘Bosses’ Mackintosh & Aitken, living at ‘Bric a Brac Villa’ a bungalow close to the Hooglie River, several miles south of Calcutta. It appears that he was responsible for 17 brick mills & during the previous month, his work force of 1,000 had made over 2 million bricks. He had recently been doing some detective work & discovered that some men had been stealing materials from his unworked Hoongapore Brick Field in Calcutta. Although he lived alone he did not find it lonely, owning a small yacht which he sailed on the river & entertaining himself by playing his accordeon.

Harold’s marital sitaution is quite a conudrum. Many members of the family in New Zealand believed taht Harold was unmarried, until his circumstances were revealed after his death. What has come to light, is an entry in the Marriage Registers held at the Indian Office, Blackfriars Road, showing taht a William Harold Browne married a Miss Agnes Reid PLACE on 29th June, 1893 in St Paul’s Cathedral, Calcutta. The NZ family believed her name to be Ruby PEARSE, a nurse who had administered to Harold when he was ill. It is possible that ‘PEARSE’ was mis-heard for ‘PLACE’. It appears that he married again because a copy of Harold’s will (dated 1933) stated: “..my wife Annie Alenadra Isabelle MAud Browne”. (Steve Osmond)

In was believed that Harold was separated from his wife Agnes/Ruby & they had no children. (Steve Osmond)

Extracts from his obituary notices:
‘Harold Browne, MBE, LRIBA, 1871-1936. Major Browne was the only son of Mr & Mrs A A Browne of Wanganui, New Zealand. He left to visit his Uncle in India in 1890 & joined the firm of Martin & Co., of Calcutta, architects of that city. He was responsible for the design & construction of some of the largest buildings of the city, including among others: The Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China, the McLeod House Esplanade Mansions, The Central Bank Building, St Xavier’s Collage, The Reserve Member’s Stand, Calcutta Racecourse, The Royal Calcutta Turf Club & Headquarters of the Calcutta Scottish.’ (Steve Osmond)

‘When the Great War broke out, Major Browne was one of those responsible for the formation of the Calcutta Scottish AFL, himself joining the corps as colour sergeant & subsequently commanding ‘A’ Company with the rank of Major.’ (Steve Osmond)