William Foster Norton Churchill joined the Malayan Civil Service in 1921 and served as Private Secretary to the Chief Secretary Sir George Maxwell during 1922-1923 and to Governor Sir Hugh Clifford during 1927-1929. After internment at Changi and Sime Road between 1942 and 1945 following the fall of Malaya to the Japanese, Churchill occupied the post of Resident Commissioner and later British Advisor, Kelantan, between 1946 and his retirement in 1953.