Decolonization: The ultimate diaspora

Among the numerous aspects of decolonization (mostly political and economic ) studied during the half-century since the beginning of the end of the Bri tish Empire, one major social phenomenon has received very little attention in the literature. This is the diaspora of the expatriate career civil ser vants who were still employed by HM government when independence was grante d. Between the transfer of power in India in 1947 and that of Hong Kong in 1997, it is estimated that at least 25,000 prematurely retired British offi cials of the Indian Civil Service, the All-India Services, the Colonial Ser vice (administration and departmental), the Sudan Political Service and the Sudan Civil Service engaged on permanent and pensionable terms returned to Britain in search of relocation and further employment. Many took up a 'se cond career' with the help of the three ad hoc ex-Service Resettlement Bure aux set up by the British government; others found employment under their o wn steam; a few, especially in the 45+ age group, looked for voluntary work rather than further paid employment. Based on largely unpublished material and statistics, this article summarizes and analyses the kinds of second c areers secured by Britain's former imperial officials. It also invites furt her research, both into the comparative French, Dutch, Portuguese and Belgi an Colonial Service experience and into the impact of this considerable bod y of experienced and able men and women on Britain's economy and society in the past half-century.