 At 17 he was working as a junior reporter for the "Essex Express and Independent", and in October 1938, when he was 20, joined the staff of "The Statesman" in Calcutta (now Kolkata), and was transferred to the Delhi office two months later.After the outbreak of World War II, in November 1939, Crosland received an emergency commission as an officer in the 15th Punjab Regiment of the Indian Army.In May 1941 he was posted with the 2nd Battalion 15th Punjab Regiment to Kuching in Sarawak on the island of Borneo, where the battalion was to defend the landing ground.