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I have put an entry for "James Bernard, Elocutionist" on Wikipedia. I still can find no records of his whereabouts between his uncle's death and his living in Sale, Cheshire. Where did he spend his early years; where did he learn elocution and reciting skills?

Hi, I thought we should have a picture of Robert Gordon Aitken. Here he is dressed in his "lancer's lace".

Further to my mention of Robert Gordon leaving the army:
Newspaper report of the fire -
BIG FIRE AT ASHAR
WOMEN JUMP FROM BURNING BUILDINGS.
Very extensive damage was done my a fire which broke out on Friday night near the tin bazaar in Ashar. The alarm was given shortly after nine o’clock, and the Central Fire Station received a call at 9-25 P M. It was obvious to the Officer Commanding the Fire Brigade that heavy work was awaiting his men and he turned out two engines from the Central Station, two from Magil, and the two fire floats.
When the Brigade arrived on the scene they found that a large khan was well alight, and that several shops and houses in the vicinity were also burning. Unfortunately owners of some of the shops had become very excited, and thus hindered the firemen in their arduous work. Many women were hysterical; some of them jumped from the roofs of the burning buildings, and were seriously injured. In this connection, valuable work was done by members of the Basrah Civil Police, who recued women and children from perilous positions. At the time this edition went to press the injuries sustained by the residents had not been received.
The efforts of the Fire Brigade were primarily directed towards preventing an extension of the outbreak, as the location from this point of view was somewhat dangerous. After several hours’ work they succeeded in controlling the fire, but it was still burning at 7 o’clock in the morning. A number of roofs collapsed, and Lieut. Aitken, who was personally in charge of operations, was carried out of one building suffering from the effects of smoke and fumes.
It was almost 1 a.m. when the engines returned to their stations, and at that time a fire float was still working. It is too early yet to give even an approximate estimate of the damage done, but it must run into many thousands of rupees. In one of the houses there was a large store of sugar, and this, in common with other commodities and stocks,  was practically destroyed. In another building the basement was burned out, and the people had to be removed from the dancing hall which occupied the upper story by the police, which managed to get them out through the roof.

Report in local paper. No date but there is a telegram (9 May 1922) sent to his future wife saying that he was arriving back to Edinburgh from Osborne House (where he had been convalescing) and was leaving the army.

Telegram 9 MY 1922
“Miss Carfrae 13 Chamberlain Rd Edin
Leave extended till well into cold weather with view to being medically boarded out of the service
arrive Waverley 7.20 tomorrow morning Love Gordon.”

Robert Gordon is mentioned in his school register along with his older brother, John Ellis and his future brother-in-law Robert Carfrae, the younger brother of Margaret.

Merchiston Castle School Register 1833 - 1913
Second edition July 1914. Edinburgh: H&J Phillans & Wilson, 86 Hanover Street
Page 171: 1910.
AITKEN, JOHN ELLIS (B.3), [1ST Jan. 1896], (P. 1908), xv., xi ; VI. Form . Bank of Bombay, Bombay, India.
Page 178: 1913.
AITKEN, ROBERT GORDON (D.3), [9th Aug. 1899], (P. 1909), 23 Findhorn Place, Edinburgh.
CARFRAE, ROBERT (D.3), [3rd Nov. 1899], (P. 1909). 13 Chamberlain Road, Edinburgh.

'Merchiston Castle School Register up to 1913' shows Robert Gordon Aitken attended 1913. His older brother, John Ellis entered the same school in 1910 and won the Hope Prize for modern languages and was in the football and cricket teams (1913?). The address is given as 33 Findhorn Place where the brothers would have lived with their Aunt Elizabeth.
Robert Gordon was in the regular army and went to Sandhurst. He served in the Indian cavalry 13th lancers and another regiment (?). He rescued people from a fire which affected his lungs and he was sent to Osborne House (Isle of Wight) to recover. The Geddes Act (?) brougth army cuts and although his father could have renewed (i.e. bought) his commission, he didn't return to India. In WWII he was in the Pay Corps, stationed in York. He was Bursar at Murchiston School for a time and an Art Teacher. "He spent money like water and was alway running up debts."

Thank you, Danchaslyn. I assume the 3 sons went away 'to better themselves' as so many did when most of the world map was coloured pink. Many of my own family went out to Canada to seek (and find) their fortunes. Sister-in-law is delighted to hear all the news. Yes, I saw the info about Elizabeth, thank you. She must have been her mother's (draper's) assistant. She never married and looked after Sir Robert's off-spring. Shame the family didn't look after her more generously later in life. Lady Caroline travelled around in her chauffered car. She died suddenly one evening in a Belgian hotel after a day out travelling.

Apart from the daughter of Robert Gordon by his first wife (my sister-in-law) there is a possible daughter (Carol) by his second wife, Irmintraude. She was an 18 year old living with friend who claimed to be pregnant by Robert. There was a hurried divorce and remarriage on the excuse that she would soon have to return to Austria otherwise.

I will certainly see if I can borrow the photo of Elizabeth and scan it to send you. Will be a week or two, though