Police Gazette. May 25th 1915

[John_Hartley]

The implication is I suppose that the Police Gazette regularly carried deserter and absentee information throughout the war. The Newspaper Library at Colindale has the Police Gazette on its catalogue. Apparently it was initially subtitled Hue and Cry. The files are closed for 75 years, but that is not a problem for Great War issues. There is the potential there for creating a deserter database.

My thoughts exactly, Clive. That is why I wanted to know how many pages there were, because I don't think that Colindale allows digital cameras.....

Clive/RT

Sounds like a good idea - along the lines of the POW database which we were trying to get off the ground a few months back. Presumably there would be later editions of the gazette that can be accessed, so a much fuller picture could be built up. If we can get the raw data, we can share out the pages for inputting into a spreadsheet. Happy to volunteer as an inputter if we can make some progress.

John

[ypres]

Hi to all who have asked for look ups,

Updating you on whats happening and why not done much about it.

Today I was going to sort through the paper and get any names off to you all, but hey the car decided that it needed some attention and I have been out all day,

I will now go off and do some looking,

If I dont get chance tonight (having drink with fore mentioned friend in new house!) I will do it Monday, (working all weekend at Eastbourne hospital!)

Now all say ARHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Mandy.

[Annette Burgoyne]

Mandy do not rush you are doing us a big faver, until your post I did not evan known that the Police Gazette published such a list.

Enjoy your drink

Annette

[sandyford]

Mandy

Could I come in very late on this and ask if there are any Northumberland Fusiliers?

After you have had a rest and your drink of course.

But not too soon after the drink.

Kate C.

[Ed Matthews]

Hi Mandy

No rush for the information ; thanks for all the details thus far.

Sorry to hear you're working all weekend....

Best wishes

Ed

[ypres]

Hi all,

Ok, car needed more attention and have sat in Garage all morning, but I was able to go through the paper and count all the regiments up.

Annette----- no more than the one I gave you.

Terry------- 12 Warwickshires.

Steve------- 4 Bedfordshires.

Doug------- 8 South Staff's.

Kate C----- 18 Northumberlands.

Off to dentist now with Bex back soon and will go through the list and get your names for you,

Do you want them e-mailing or put on here?

Mandy

[Terry Carter]

Hi Mandy

You can post the info regarding the 12 Royal Warwicks on this site if its not to much trouble.

Can I thank you for the time and effort that you are putting into this.

much appreciated

Terry

[Annette Burgoyne]

Hi Mandy

Thanks for looking.

Annette

[Doug Lewis]

Hi Mandy

Thank you for looking,could you please post the information here,thanks.

Regards Doug

[ypres]

Terry,

I have the info in grid form but it does not copy well!!!!

I will give you name and number, Battalion, enlisted and deserted,

If you want the rest of the info it is better for me to e-mail it to you as an attachment. Therefore if you e-mail me your address then i will send it to you.

so here goes:-

Isacc Appleby 11390 3rd 27/3/15 ?? . 13th May, Parkhurst

W. Bates 6952 3rd 10/8/1899 Blackburn. 7th May, Parkhurst

James Bradbury 11737 depot 23/5/15 Birmingham. 9th may, Warwick

John Cartlidge 8622 11th 7/9/14 Nuneaton. 10th May, Andover

Henry Fletcher 7/5/15 Birmingham. 10th May Birmingham

William Haynes 9232 11th 16/11/14 Birmingham. 10th May, Andover

William Higgins 1987 11th 25/8/14 Birmingham. 13th may, Andover

J. W. Longton 713? 10th 9/9/14 Blackburn. 28th April, Tidworth.

Thomas Parkes 11396 11th 16/9/14 Wigan. 14th may, Andover

Alfred F. Pond 1312 16th 1/3/15 Birmingham. 9th May, Mlvrn Wlls

E. Swain 9288 3rd 26/6/08 Warwick. 14th may, Parkhurst

Swann 8173 11th 14/9/14 Birmingham. 10th May, Andover

Mandy

Steve, Doug, Kate and Ed the rest will follow but maybe not for a day or two.

Mandy

[Guest Simon Bull]

Did every edition of the Police Gazette carry a similar list of deserters, or is it just this particular edition?

Simon Bull

[ypres]

Simon

There was one each week as the back page gives the date in which those who have re-joined were first named.

This copy was found some years back by a friend of mine in a car boot sale, i think.

If anyone else has a copy of any others i would appreciate a copy!

Mandy

[ypres]

Steve,

Here are your four Bedfordshire men.

Edgar Bliss, 13419, 10th Bn. 23yrs, 5' 5", fresh complexion, black hair grey eyes, printer, enl- 2/9/1914 Bedford, born Dunstable, des- 14/5/15, Redhill.

William Humphries, 3784, 1st Bn. 36yrs, no other info until des- 10th May, Wantage, (marks and remarks---- gunshot wound thigh).

Charles Millett, 12140, 6th Bn, 22yrs, 5' 3", fresh, fair, grey, butchers assistant, enl-13/8/1914, Finsbury, born Clerkenwell, des- 5/5/1915, Ludgershall,

F. Webb, 12375, 6th Bn. 25yrs 5' 3", fresh, brown, brown, cook, enl- 17/8/1914, London, born Battersea, des- 5/5/1915, Ludgershall, (marks and remarks----Fred Nell ILN right forearm).

rejoined or not to be apprehended

W. Nial, 9914, 4th Bn. advertised on 11th May 1915.

Mandy

[Ali Hollington]

Hi,

When you have the time, could you look for anyone who did a runner from the Essex Regiment.

Thanks.

Ali

[ypres]

Doug,

Here are the results for the South Staffordshire's!

Allport, 9428, 21¾ yrs, 5’ 7¾”, fresh complexion dark brown hair, blue eyes, horse driver.

Enl- 16/7/1913, Walsall, born Blackenhall,

Des- 30/4/1915, Lichfield.

H. Bohle, 9333, depot, 20½yrs, 5’ 3½”, fresh, brown, grey, brass moulder.

Enl- 3/2/1913, Stratford, born St Georges London.

4/5/1915, Litchfield.

Scar wrists,

George Foster, 11305, 3rd Bn. 24½ yrs, fresh, light brown, blue, tailor.

Enl- 27/8/1914, Wolverhampton, born Darleston.

Des- 13/5/1915, Plymouth.

Scar right eyebrow, right knee.

D. Glear, 5745, Depot, 36½yrs 5’ 6½”, fresh, light brown, blue, br**k drwr.

Enl- 9/10/1899, Tipton, born Tipton.

Des- 3/5/1915, Litchfield.

Stalls. knot right forearm ?could be staff. knot (this man is on the fold of the paper sorry).

Albert Pugh, 14890, 10th Bn. 30yrs, 5’ 7½”, sallow, brown, blue, glass beveller.

Enl- 8/9/1914, Birmingham, born Balsall Heath.

Des- 14/5/1915, Tavistock.

John Rogers, 16098, 3rd Bn. 33¼ yrs, 5’ 5¾”, twn carter.

Enl- 20/11/1911, Wolverhampton,

Des- 17/4/1915, Plymouth.

G. Wall, 8465, Depot, 26 yrs, 5’ 7”, fair, light brown, brown, labourer.

Enl- 26/3/1908, Walsall, born Bradley.

Des- 8/5/1915, Litchfield,

Scars buttocks.

C. F. Whitmore, 6892, Depot, 29¾ yrs, 5’4”, fresh, brown, hazel, labourer.

Enl- 8/9/1903, Birmingham, born Handsworth.

Des- 4/5/1915, Litchfield.

Scar left shin.

Territorial force,

W. S. Coldman, 2883, 6th Bn. 25yrs, 5’ 8½”, fresh, brown, hazel, traveller.

Enl- 5/9/1914, Wolverhampton, born Bowling, Yorkshire.

Des- 20/5/1915, Harpenden.

Thomas Hayward, 3852, 6th Bn. 19¼ yrs, 5’ 3”, fair, brown, blue, riveter.

Enl- 21/12/1914, Himley, born Wolverhampton.

Des- 15/5/1915, Harpenden.

C. Hodgkinson, 3515, 6th Bn. 31yrs, 5’ 6½”, fresh, brown, light brown, engineer.

Enl- 20/10/1914, Darlaston, born Tipton.

Des- 8/5/1915, Harpenden.

None on the rejoined list.

Mandy

[ypres]

Ali,

quickly looked and there are 24, plus 2 Essex yeomanry,

none on that weeks list as rejoined,

As before when I get the info on the data base I will post name, number, enlisted date and date of desertion then if you e-mail me your e-mail address you can have all the details.

This will take a while, housework, packing for Somme trip and working all coming up in next week so may be after I get back on 8th July,

Mandy.

[Doug Lewis]

Mandy

Thank you very much for the information.

Regards Doug.

[ypres]

Just a quick note,

25th May 1915 Top Ten Regiments.

1. Royal Field Artillery................97.

2. Army Service Corps...............67.

3. Royal Engineers.....................53.

4. East Surrey Regiment.............52.

5. Scottish Rifles........................44.

6. Middlesex Regiment...............41.

7. West Yorkshire Regiment........40.

8. Royal Garrison Artillery..........36.

9. Royal Fusiliers.......................29.

10. East Yorkshire Regiment........26.

Territorial Top 2.

1. London Regiment Royal Fusiliers. 20.

2. London Regiment...................... 17.

Royal Navy.

HMS "Pembroke" Hit the top with.......17.

Topping the hit parade for rejoining or not to be apprehanded are,

1. Coldstream Guards..................23,

2. Royal Field Artillery..................21.

And last but not least

1. HMS "Victory"............................10.

2. HMS "Nottingham"........................8.

Mandy

[Guest Simon Bull]

Thanks Mandy. I ask because a local man in whom I am interested has "deserted" written across his medal index card and then crossed out. I believe I can identify from press reports that he was probably AWOL for a while, so I wondered if (when I eventually go to Collindale) it would be worth seeing if he was mentioned in the Police Gazette.

Simon

[ypres]

Simon,

If you give me his name i will look to see if he is mentioned on either the deserted list or rejoined list. If you think it was around April, May 1915.

The paper i have is dated 25th May but the rejoined list covers back dates, most of which were in the previous 2 weeks papers.

Mandy

[Guest Simon Bull]

I cannot tell the date without doing a good deal of digging in my papers, although my recollection is early 1916.

However, his name was William Holmes and he was in the Northamptonshire Regiment.

Thanks for your help.

Simon Bull

[ypres]

Simon,

Have looked for you and he is not on that weeks list. Just as you thought.

Kate,

Your crew are as follows.

J. Aston, 20717, Depot, 21yrs, 5’ 7½”, complexion -, hair -, eyes -, fireman.

Enl- 3/4/15, Alnwick. Born Camberwell.

Des- 8/5/15, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Edward Brooks, 15097, 27½yrs, 5’ 10”, fresh, brown, grey, miner.

Enl- 9/11/14, Bedlington, Born Amble.

Des- 9/5/15, Darlington.

John Brown, 15692, 15th Bn, 29¾yrs, 5’ 6”, --, --, --, labourer.

Enl- 23/11/14, North Shields, Born Howden-on-Tyne.

Des- 1/5/15, Darlington.

Thomas Clark, 3999, 15th Bn. 20¾yrs, 5’4½”, -- dark brown, brown, labourer.

Enl- 13/8/14, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Born Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Des- 6/5/15, Darlington.

John Deans, 20501, Depot, 35½yrs, 5’ 2¼”, --, --, --, labourer.

Enl- 29/4/15, Sunderland. Born Sunderland.

Des- 12/5/15, Newcastle.

William Gibson, 8691, 35¾yrs, 5’ 6½”, --, dark brown, brown, miner.

Enl- 12/8/14, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Born Gateshead, Durham.

Des- 10/5/15, Darlington.

Robert Harrison, 9175, 15th Bn. 44¼yrs, 5’ 7”, dark brown, brown, miner.

Enl- 2/9/14, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Born Bishop Aukland.

Des- 4/5/15, Darlington.

K S cross right forearm.

Joseph Hogg, 4834, 8th Bn. 20½yrs, 5’ 5½”, light, light, grey, seaman.

Enl-17/8/14, Blyth, Born Blyth.

Des- 12/5/15, Witley.

James Money, 21990, Depot, --, 5’ 3¾”, --, --, --, seaman.

Enl- 11/5/15, North Shields, Born Tynemouth,

Des- 15/5/15, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Thomas O’Keefe, 4566, 8th Bn, 27¾yrs, 5’4¼”, fair, dark brown, grey, miner.

Enl- 22/8/14, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Born Burnopfield, Durham.

Des- 12/5/15, Whitley Camp.

John Perlage, 17961, 15th Bn, 20yrs, 5’ 6”, --, --, --, packer.

Enl- 22/2/15, Ilkeston, Born Nottingham.

Des- 10/5/15, Darlington.

Indians hands right forearm.

James Reid, 450, 10th Bn. 21yrs 5’ 6”, --, --, --, shop assistant.

Enl- 20/11/14, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Born Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Des- 23/4/15, Morpeth.

William Richardson, 8686, 8th Bn, 28¼yrs 5’ 2”, --, light brown, grey, labourer.

Enl- 17/8/14, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Born Durham.

Des- 9/5/15, Witley.

George Robson, 4073, 8th Bn. 24yrs 5’ 6”, dark, dark brown, grey, labourer.

Enl- 14/8/14, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Born St Andrews Newcastle.

Des- 12/5/15, Whitley Camp.

John William Smith, 4489, 8th Bn, 30¾yrs, 5’ 8¼”, fresh, brown, grey, able seaman.

Enl- 18/8/14, Wallsend-on-Tyne. Born Wallsend.

Des- 12/5/15, Whitley Camp.

Horseshoe rose anchor right forearm.

Discharged for misconduct.

Atkinson, 9984, 3rd Bn. 40¾yrs, 5’ 11”, fresh, dark brown, brown, labourer.

Misconduct. 19th May at East Bolden. Born Middlesborough.

John Haley, 9177, 3rd Bn. 36¾yrs, 5’7”, fresh, dark brown, dark brown, labourer.

Misconduct. 19th May at East Bolden. Born St Andrews, Newcastle.

James Stone, 216, 3rd Bn. 30yrs, 5’ 11”, fresh, brown, blue, labourer.

Ignominy. 14th May at East Bolden. Born Anslow, Burton-on-Trent.

Wound left cheek.

Mandy.

Have a good weekend everyone.

[sandyford]

Mandy

Thank you so very much for having the paper in the first place, looking it up for me and also typing all those names and details.

The desertions are self explanatory. I have read accounts of sometimes very harrowing personal circumstances which led to desertion or at first absence without leave which became desertion.

Misconduct gives us a wide field for the imagination.

Ignominy as grounds for discharge is a new expression to me.

I will ask about it on the forum if I can't find out about it myself.

Thank you again. I hope you are not working this weekend and can relax.

Kate

[ypres]

Kate.

glad to be of help.

No I am not working this weekend ( well not paid work anyway!)

Getting ready for next week ( away 1st to 8th with no children BLISS)

Let me know how you get on

Mandy

[ypres]

Ali,

Hope you are ready for this!

Essex Men Deserted/AWOL.

C. Baldwin, 18379, 13th Bn. 38yrs, 5’ 3¼”, complexion- fresh, hair- brown, eyes- blue, labourer.

Enl- 24/2/15, Canning Town. Born Poplar.

Des- 11/5/15, Stratford.

Scar left knee.

A. Baker, 13867, 10th Bn, 34¾yrs, 5’ 4”, fresh, brown, blue, carman.

Enl- 8/9/14, Stratford. Born London.

Des- 23/4/15, Colchester.

Scar forehead.

D. Boatman, 18977, 3rd Bn, 23yrs 5’ 3½”, --, --, --, labourer.

Enl- 20/4/15, Southend. Born ?

Des- 7/5/15, Harwich.

Tattooed left forearm.

C. T. Bradford, 13942, 10th Bn. 26¾yrs, 5’ 3”, fresh, brown, brown, packer.

Enl- 8/9/14, ???. Born London.

Des- 22/4/15, Colchester.

John Buckley, 17213, 13th Bn. 19yrs, 5’ 4”, fresh, brown, blue, vanguard.

Enl- 11/1/15, Finsbury. Born Bethnal Green.

Des- 14/5/15, Stratford.

Scar right hand & foot.

W. Collins, 9430, 3rd Bn. 24yrs, 5’ 6”, sallow, dark brown, hazel, general labourer.

Enl- 8/2/10, Warley. Born Bromley by Bow.

Des- 13/5/15, Harwich.

Scar right knee.

W. P. Cunningham, 18418, 3rd Bn. 31yrs, 5’ 7”, --, --, --, wharf labourer.

Enl- 23/1/15, Stratford. Born ???.

Des- 10/5/158, Harwich.

Flowers, snake, palm tree left forearm.

H. Dipper, 6749, 3rd Bn. 31½yrs, --, fresh, brown, grey, labourer.

Enl- 10/5/02, Stratford. Born West Ham.

Des- 9/5/15, Harwich.

Mole on abdomen.

Samuel Gardner, 3174, 11th Bn. 39¾yrs, 5’ 9¾”, --, brown, grey, horseman.

Enl- 21/9/14, Colchester. Born Boxted.

Des- 10/5/15, Shoreham.

H. Goodwin, 14548, 10th Bn. 23yrs, 5’5”, fresh, dark brown, blue, labourer.

Enl- 8/9/14, Canning Town. Born Poplar, London.

Des- ??? Codford.

W. A. Green, 17302, 13th Bn. 33yrs, 5’5¼”, fresh, brown, blue, seaman.

Enl- 15/1/15, Stratford. Born Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Des- 14/5/15, Stratford.

Tattoo’s both forearms and mole on chest.

A. Greenwood, 16878, 3rd Bn. 34yrs 5’3½”, --, --, --, --.

Enl- 4/1/15, Chelsea.

Des- 10/5/15, Harwich.

Edward Harman, 8805, Depot, 26½yrs, --, fresh, brown, brown, general labourer.

Enl- 14/11/16, Warley. Born Walthamstow.

Des- 3/5/15, Warley.

Sailor clasped hands right forearm.

W. Jackson, 18947, 3rd Bn, 21yrs 5’9”, --, --, --, labourer.

Enl- 19/4/15, Colchester.

Des- 8/5/15, Harwich.

George T. Jordan, 9630, Depot, 22¼yrs, --, pale, brown, brown, labourer.

Enl- 13/2/15, Ilford. Born Canning Town.

Des- 27/4/15, Warley.

Star right ear, mole left cheek, star right buttock.

James Millett, 3504, 3rd Bn. 38yrs, 5’5½”, --, --, --, steel fixer.

Enl- 28/10/14, Stratford. Born Bromley by Bow.

Des- 5/5/15, Harwich.

Annie Hall and dots left forearm.

W. J. O’Keefe, 10211, 3rd Bn. 22yrs 5’8”, fresh, brown, grey, labourer.

Enl- 5/8/13, Warley. Born Bethnal Green.

Des- 8/5/15, Harwich.

Albert John Pheby, 7223, Essex Rgt. 28yrs, --, fresh, brown, grey, labourer.

Enl- 15/10/02, Stratford. Born Whitechapel.

Des- 28/4/15, Warley.

A Pheby Love a Downe right forearm.

J. Prior, 10142, 3rd Bn. 25½yrs, 5’8”, sallow, brown, grey, factory hand.

Enl- 11/2/13, Warley. Born Bromley by Bow.

Des- 10/5/15, Harwich.

Scar left forehead and cheek.

P. G. Saunders, 13703, 10th Bn. 35¾yrs, 5’3”, dark, black, brown, boot repairer.

Enl- 8/9/14, Hackney. Born Bethnal Green.

Des- 1/5/15, Colchester.

Emblem forearms.

John Say, 15566, 3rd Bn. 21yrs, 5’6”, --, --, --, cab driver.

Enl- 9/11/14, Southend. Born Stanford-le-Hope.

Des- 8/5/15, Harwich.

T. S. Staples, 15516, 11th Bn. 28½yrs, 5’5”, --, --, --, cooper.

Enl- 7/11/14, Canning Town. Born Canning Town.

Des- 12/5/15, Shoreham.

Birthmark below right breast.

Thatcher, 8415, 3rd Bn. 28½yrs, --, fresh, fair, grey, seaman.

Enl- 6/9/05, Warley. Born Whitechapel.

Des- 9/5/15, Harwich.

Woman’s bust right forearm, scar over left nipple.

Benjamin Watts, 14961, 10th Bn. 20¼yrs 5’6”, fresh, dark brown, brown, labourer.

Enl- 14/5/14, ????. Born London.

Des- 22/4/15, Colchester.

I Love Sarah right forearm, hand revolver left.

Territorial deserters.

H. Ansell, 1982, 1st Yeomanry, 21yrs, 5’7”, fresh, brown, brown electrician.

Enl- 17/3/15, Colchester.

Des- 16/5/15, Stanway.

W. J. Holeman, 1991, 1st Yeomanry, 19¼yrs, 5’7¾”, dark, brown, brown, clerk.

Enl- 18/5/15, Colchester.

Des- 16/5/15, Stanway.

Birthmark right forearm.

I now have the paper to file (got a new scanner!) makes life much easier and i don't have to keep opening the paper,

anyone else want any names then let me know after i return.

Mandy