deserters.....

[rosie]

can any one tell me if you can get info on soilders who deserted the army ww1

[DavidWW]

can any one tell me if you can get info on soilders who deserted the army ww1

The following is taken from http://www.mlfhs.org.uk/Infobase/Begin-Army2.htm


The Police Gazette - Deserters

Desertion was not uncommon. When a soldier deserted, his description was published in “Hue and Cry” a newspaper circulated to Justices of the Peace, parish constables and later police forces. This subsequently became the “Police Gazette” and was published 2-3 times a week. Details of those named in the Police Gazette 1828-1840 have been published by M&LFHS * but for other periods a tedious search may be necessary. If a desertion date is identified from a regimental muster book, a search of subsequent issues of the Police Gazette may be worthwhile. The details published mirror those in the description books and are invaluable where the latter have been lost.

What I'm not clear on is if such lists were continued during WWI as the size of the wartime army must have meant greatly increased numbers of deserters.

Perhaps an email to The National Archives would be worthwhile.

David

[rosie]

thanks daivid for the info i will try emailing the archives and see what they say.

regards rosie