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Was he a Deserter?

jmadone

jmadone

master brummie
Does any member have access to Fold 3 on Ancestry? If so I wonder if they could look up and see what happened to an ancestor of mine.
According to Ancestry, William Groves, regimental number 5241748, was posted as a deserter from the Worcester Regiment on 21st May 1921. The place of desertion is given as Warwick.
In 1911 he and his family were living in Cowper Street. 1939 sees him living in Well street with his wife and Mother in Law (My gt.grandma) I'm trying to find out what happened in between times.
Ancestry says his military record can be viewed on Fold 3 to which I haven't a subscription.
Thank you in advance
Jim
 
In 1921 he is still living at 50 Cowper St with his mother, first wife, daughter (?), sister and her family.

So, if it was him who was a deserter in May 21, he wasn't in hiding a month later when the census was taken (21 Jun).
 
MWS said:
In 1921 he is still living at 50 Cowper St with his mother, first wife, daughter (?), sister and her family.

So, if it was him who was a deserter in May 21, he wasn't in hiding a month later when the census was taken (21 Jun).
Click to expand...
Perhaps he was found not guilty and only went AWOL.
 
In 1920 he does not appear on the eroll and neither is he listed in Cowper Street in 1925. The only name is Jane Groves.
 
pjmburns said:
In 1920 he does not appear on the eroll and neither is he listed in Cowper Street in 1925. The only name is Jane Groves.
Click to expand...

I think he was born 1901, so not quite old enough in 1920 I think.

Interestingly (or not) his in laws and son from his first marriage are living at 58 Cowper St in 1939 and earlier ERs.
 
Aston Lad, Thank you. Certainly looks like my guy but interestingly discharged for misconduct after being convicted by Civil authorities, no mention of desertion. Perhaps he was in custody and civil court when he was due back on duty and therefore posted as a deserter. Not knowing much about the military and how it worked I'm only guessing.
Thanks also to Janice and MWS for your contributions, they have opened up some new paths of research for me.
 
I'm not sure what you saw but maybe it was just a mix up on the transcription as those at the top of the page were deserters.
 
It comes up on Ancestry as
1649776202901.png
However, the record does not seem to back this as it suggests he had been guilty of misconduct with a civil case.
 
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Reactions: MWS
No mention of desertion, which is why I think transcription error.

A lot of documents are transcribed by computer and errors are common. In this case it looks like the column titles - desertion date and desertion place - from the top table have been incorrectly applied to the bottom table instead of date of discharge and place of discharge, on the transcription (post #13).
 
So his desertion (or charge of such) occurred prior to Feb 1921 but he wasn't discharged until May 1921. Does that imply that if he did desert he wasn't discharged for such but was possibly discharged because of the imprisonment? This being the 'con. civil power' in reason for discharge column.
 
To be certain what went on it looks as if you wold eed his military record. I gather ww2 records take a long time to arrive.
 
MWS said:
So his desertion (or charge of such) occurred prior to Feb 1921 but he wasn't discharged until May 1921. Does that imply that if he did desert he wasn't discharged for such but was possibly discharged because of the imprisonment? This being the 'con. civil power' in reason for discharge column.
Click to expand...
The article doesn't make it clear if he was arrested for the theft as well as the desertion charge. I'm now looking to find out if he was ever tried in a military court after serving his civil sentence.
pjmburns said:
To be certain what went on it looks as if you wold eed his military record. I gather ww2 records take a long time to arrive.
Click to expand...
I'm trying to find out via various websites but I don't really want to go to the expense of applying for his military service records. (He was only a distant relative :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: )
 
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