In 1964 a small subscription of monies was invested for a proposed monument on the plains of Afghanistan at the Maiwand battlefield, 40 miles west of Kandahar to commemorate the battle where Assistant Surgeon John H. Watson was wounded at "the fatal battle of Maiwand" on 27th July 1880.

There have been plaques placed at "Old Barts" and Reichenbach, but Maiwand has been overlooked as the true genesis of the sacred writings. Watson was struck by a Jezail bullet, rescued by Murray and removed to hospital and discharged with a small wound pension. In London he cast about for a roommate to share expenses and thus the union of Holmes and Watson was made. The monument will be dedicated to that unknown Afghan whose bullet brought Watson to Holmes and thus Holmes to the world.

Our first idea was to just have a fly-over and a small plaque dropped over Maiwand. As our fund increased we thought of a large bronze plaque to be set in the desert. We were advised that the natives would use the bronze for scrap. Then we actually designed an inflatable plastic monument that our tourist agent could inflate and photograph and abandon. Our current plan is for a 5 foot solid granite marker inscribed in English and Pushtu.

The Commandant made 4 trips over 4 years to the Afghan Embassy in Washington, D.C., to arrange for government sanctions. Finally Ambassador Maiwandwal received official permission via the diplomatic pouch for our Scion to place the marker.

A director of the Afghan Studies at the University of Nebraska, Professor Richard Lane, was dispatched to Kabul with 1000 pounds sterling to contract for the monument in 1978. On the 300 mile highway from Kabul to Kandahar that summer, 3 European tourists were beheaded by bandits and Lane chose not to fulfill his mission. For this neglect of duty the membership came close to drumming him from our company.

In 1980, the Afghan monarchy fell to the communists and our hopes were dashed. Even after Russian occupation, the internal conflicts preclude any further attempt until the country is stabilized. Our agents are in place and we are hopeful that the Watson monument will be eventually be erected.

The inscription is as follows:

It is written in the book that, on or near this site, on 27 July 1880, an unknown Afghan soldier, heroically and successfully fighting in defense of his homeland, and protecting freedom the world over, fired the Jezail bullet which first wounded Regimental Surgeon John H. Watson, M.D., of the invading British forces. Upon receiving this wound, Dr. Watson was invalided out of miliary service, and returned to London to become the confidante and friend of Sherlock Holmes, whose perfect spirit lives through his writings.

May the words graven in this stone be as eternal as the immortal words of Watson and the deeds of Sherlock Holmes.