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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Suzy100 on Sunday 03 September 17 13:43 BST (UK)
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I am researching my friends grandfather and I have found a newspaper article where it states that he was a deserter from the Scots Greys 2nd Battalion, it is dated 1927. I am not sure how true this was as he was basically a criminal and was in court charged with theft and trying to stab a police officer. He was born in 1901 which again does not really fit with when he would have been in the Scots Greys. I have obviously searched the obvious web sites - Ancestry, Find my past, Forces war, but again am at a loss.
I have a time line for him and in 1917 he was bound over for stealing a bike.
In 1918 he was sent to Borstal for 3 years charged with 'being a suspect'
1924 married
1925 1 months hard labour for deserting his wife and child
1926 21 days hard labour for obstructing the police
So I cannot see when he had the time to join the army!! Also he seems too young to have been in the WW1.
Where do I go from here to find out if he actually was in the Scots Greys.
Thanks
Sue
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If he was serving after 1920, then his service record will be with the MOD.
It will not be available online. ::)
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The Scots Greys were a cavalry regt and did not have a 2nd Battalion.
I suspect you mean Scots Guards.
Alan
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Hi Alan
No I do mean the 'Scots Greys' 2nd Battalion but I am only quoting what Percy Clarence Wheeler told the police office when he was arrested. I do know now that there is no 2nd Battalion which is why I am not sure if he was lying or not. He may have said it to throw the officer off guard, I am not sure. But I still cannot find him and he seems too young to have been in the 1st WW so it is a bit of a mystery, also I have a time line for him and his criminal endeavors and am not sure when he would have fitted in being in the army! he seems to have been in and out of prison or doing hard labour between 1917 and 1930.
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He may have joined the army using an alias. I see from the criminal records that he was convicted as Arthur Albert Anderson in 1930.
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Cavalry regts were not battalions nor did they have 2nd regts. He was clearly a liar.
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Yes I tend to agree to be honest but it seems a random thing to admit too!
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If he admitted to it then he it seems to me likely that he was challenged on the matter. The court reporter may have made an error on the name of the regiment (Scots G ?). I've seen court reporter errors before. It is entirely possible that he joined the army and deserted very soon after joining.
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He may have joined the army using an alias. I see from the criminal records that he was convicted as Arthur Albert Anderson in 1930.
Hi Shaun I have only just seen this post and have not come across this criminal record where did you find it and what does it refer to? Do you have a link please?
Thanks
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The 1930 record is on FindMyPast http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=tna%2fccc%2fmepo6%2f044%2f00161&parentid=tna%2fccc%2f2b%2fmepo6%2f00780383&highlights=%22%22