alf mcm Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 A new set of records on Findmypast:- British Army, Deserters and Absentees in Police Gazette 1914-1919 Containing over 13,000 records, Deserters and Absentees in Police Gazette 1914-1919 is comprised of lists of deserters and absentees published in Police Gazette during the First World War. The Gazette was primarily distributed to police forces around the British Isles and contained lists of persons wanted by police, missing or stolen objects, missing people and habitual criminals. During the war, it also provided lists of deserters and absentees from Britain’s armed forces. The lists were produced as a supplement every fortnight and most of the men listed were picked up and sent back to the army for court martial. Punishments could be severe but although execution was used in some cases it was not the norm. Some deserter’s evaded capture altogether, changed their name and went on to live a completely new life. Each record contains and image and transcript of the original source material. Records list the soldiers name, age, regiment, service number and the date and location of their desertion. Unsurprisingly, many deserters went missing after a visit home so each deserter’s last known address is included. Listings also included a full physical description. Distinguishing features were often abbreviated for space: “sc” appears for “scar”, “ttd” for “tattoo,”etc. Regards, Alf McM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Morning Interesting thing about some of the documents is that it records date and place of enlistment. Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFBSM Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Thanks for alerting me to this. Just had a look, it is possible to search on Regiment and year range without adding a name. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Thanks - I was just doing some work yesterday on a deserter too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 the link is http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/british-army-deserters-and-absentees-in-police-gazette-1914-1919 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 well a quick look was a mixed bag - I know from memory about 10 coldstream deserters and only found one (a DCM winner and general bad 'un) And some of those I cant find using "coldstream guards" are known to be in the Police gazette more work needed me thinks to cross reference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Hi I checked my first man and found his enlistment date (he was kia). After that, zilch, Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Alas, no Drakefield, that I can see. http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=228402&hl=drakefield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roughdiamond Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Joy, though I maybe I'll get a rough idea of my Grandfather's Desertion date! but there is no sign of him. Is there a date in 1919 when the issue of the Gazette was ceased? I know from Medal rolls that my Grandfather Patrick Daly (also checked Daley, Dailey and Daily as it's regulary mis-spelt), Gordon Highlanders was in Italy with the 7th Div who didn't return to the UK till 1919, the Medal Roll shows his War and Victory medals were forfeited for Desertion (they were re-issued in 1926), from his Service number, it's almost certain he didn't join his Bn till after they'd gone to Italy in Dec 1917 so the only conclusion is he Deserted on their and his return sometime in 1919. Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 I've found around a 1/3rd of the deserters I know about. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 well a quick look was a mixed bag - I know from memory about 10 coldstream deserters and only found one (a DCM winner and general bad 'un) I get 77 results? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Joy, though I maybe I'll get a rough idea of my Grandfather's Desertion date! but there is no sign of him. Is there a date in 1919 when the issue of the Gazette was ceased? I know from Medal rolls that my Grandfather Patrick Daly (also checked Daley, Dailey and Daily as it's regulary mis-spelt), Gordon Highlanders was in Italy with the 7th Div who didn't return to the UK till 1919, the Medal Roll shows his War and Victory medals were forfeited for Desertion (they were re-issued in 1926), from his Service number, it's almost certain he didn't join his Bn till after they'd gone to Italy in Dec 1917 so the only conclusion is he Deserted on their and his return sometime in 1919. Sam Sam - Any good? - http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fpolicegazette%2f007330 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 I get 77 results? I dont know the names of all 77 from the top of my head - Im good but not that good - sorry I can only name 10 to clarify I found ONE of those TEN I know to be deserters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Ah right. Thought something was amiss. As you were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 maybe a re visit in a few weeks to see if more added ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Stewart Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 The Police Gazette generally only shows those that have deserted within the UK and not necessarily those who deserted whilst overseas. I have a small collection of Police Gazettes from 1914-1919, which make interesting reading as they also inlcude all of those who failed to turn up under the Group System and Military Service Act and whom are deemed to be 'deserters' and so by 1916 you have up to 20pages per fortnightly publication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 The Police Gazette generally only shows those that have deserted within the UK and not necessarily those who deserted whilst overseas. I have a small collection of Police Gazettes from 1914-1919, which make interesting reading as they also inlcude all of those who failed to turn up under the Group System and Military Service Act and whom are deemed to be 'deserters' and so by 1916 you have up to 20pages per fortnightly publication. I was looking for my great uncle - Joseph Maddison Suddick - who deserted from the DLI in early April 1915 (and later enlisted in to the SWB) - but no luck. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allison01 Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Thanks for the heads up Allison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roughdiamond Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Sam - Any good? - http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fpolicegazette%2f007330Hi IPTSorry to ask but what's the link to? If it's an entry that lists my Grandfather, I'll shell out, just to clarify he was S/23445 Pte Patrick Daly 2nd Bn Gordon's and he was born 1898. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Hi IPT Sorry to ask but what's the link to? If it's an entry that lists my Grandfather, I'll shell out, just to clarify he was S/23445 Pte Patrick Daly 2nd Bn Gordon's and he was born 1898. Link to a record for a Patrick Daly - born 1901. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roughdiamond Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Thanks Craig but my Grandfather was born 1898, I had seen one on the search that had no Service number or Regiment with a birth date of 1901 so I discounted it. Could you indulge me please, is there anything to tie him to the details I've posted? Thanks Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin RussT Posted 14 August , 2015 Admin Share Posted 14 August , 2015 There also appear to be lists of men "Discharged for Misconduct" - see example. Would these come under KRs? Can anyone decipher some of the Marks/Remarks in this example? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 There also appear to be lists of men "Discharged for Misconduct" - see example. Would these come under KRs? Can anyone decipher some of the Marks/Remarks in this example? Interesting, I wonder if it was to allow a man to be identified if arrested as a suspected deserter. Abbreviations - "The Police Gazette was primarily distributed to police forces around the British Isles and contained lists of persons wanted by police, missing or stolen objects, missing people and habitual criminals. It also provided lists of deserters and absentees from Britain’s armed forces. During the First Wold War these lists were produced as a supplement every fortnight. Unsurprisingly, many deserters went missing after a visit home so each deserter’s last known address is included. Listings also included a full physical description. However, distinguishing features were often abbreviated for space: “sc” appears for “scar”, “ttd” for “tattoo,”etc. Parts of the body were also contracted, such as “frhead” (forehead), “frm” (forearm) or nck (neck). You will also find “bk” for back, “frt” for front and “rt” for right. Most deserters and absentees were picked up and sent back to the army for court martial. Punishments could be severe but although execution was used in some cases it was not the norm. Some deserters evaded capture altogether, changed their name and went on to live a completely new life." Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 #15129 Ball - convicted of obtaining money under false pretences. #16419 Barker - convicted of an offence before before enlistment. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 14 August , 2015 Share Posted 14 August , 2015 Hi IPT Sorry to ask but what's the link to? If it's an entry that lists my Grandfather, I'll shell out, just to clarify he was S/23445 Pte Patrick Daly 2nd Bn Gordon's and he was born 1898. FMP is free for the 1st 14 days so no need to shell anything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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