Interesting possibilities! I'm not surprised that Doyle didn't bother to get details about where different regiments were posted historically correct. The theory you put forward is a fun one to connect those dots.
And I continue to be fascinated by how short Watson's military career was. His 'soldier' identity and qualities are so often made into prominent parts of his characterization that I am always surprised to remember that he was only in the army for, at most, a year and a half. Nothing like a career soldier. And I get the impression that Maiwand may have been his only battle experience, as during his time in India he wouldn't have been posted near any sort of front line that I'm aware of. And, as discussed in previous posts, as a doctor he was technically a non-combatant and may never have fired his weapon. IMO, all these aspects of his military service tend to create a more atypical image of the 'soldier' aspect of his identity than the 'man of action' shorthand that Doyle and later adaptations sometimes used to define Watson's role in his partnership with Holmes.
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And I continue to be fascinated by how short Watson's military career was. His 'soldier' identity and qualities are so often made into prominent parts of his characterization that I am always surprised to remember that he was only in the army for, at most, a year and a half. Nothing like a career soldier. And I get the impression that Maiwand may have been his only battle experience, as during his time in India he wouldn't have been posted near any sort of front line that I'm aware of. And, as discussed in previous posts, as a doctor he was technically a non-combatant and may never have fired his weapon. IMO, all these aspects of his military service tend to create a more atypical image of the 'soldier' aspect of his identity than the 'man of action' shorthand that Doyle and later adaptations sometimes used to define Watson's role in his partnership with Holmes.