Deserters

[MACRAE]

Hi Gang

Okay was offered a very nice Family group today consists of 3 Death Plaques and medals, Now the intresting part the lady whom sold them to the dealer was about 90 and she recalls her mother telling her that of the 7 sons 5 killed in action and 1 tried to enlist but was rejected because he was deaf and he killed himself, Now one of the brothers Ernist found out his wife was fooling around with some one and he returned home (I am assuming he deserted) and sorted things out ?, as we know deserters was shot , so I am told he re-enlisted under a diferant name and was killed in action soon after,his family name was Martin how can I find out if a Ernist Martin deserted we are assuming he joined the same regiment as his brothers R Sussex Regt can any one shed any light on this.

Cheers and thank you

Dan

[Guest]

Actually, most deserters were not shot.

From memory, about 6,000 were court martialled for it and 229 were shot.

Short of getting hold of his unit records and going through them, I am not sure how you can proceed here.

[Graham Stewart]

Dan,

The majority of deserters while in the UK can be found in the Police Gazettes, copies of which are held in the British Newpaper Library. Local Court Records also hold details of court appearances of deserters.

Graham.

[MACRAE]

Well police Gazettes would make sense as it may well hold the clue as to what happend when he paid his wifes lover a vist well i will keep on going i may well come up with something .

Dan

[KONDOA]

Medal rolls often show medals not issued due to desertion. Wether this applies in your case though is suspect.

Roop