WW1 Army Deserters

[zion]

Hi, I was wondering if a soldier deserted during or after the war ended was he still a 'wanted man'
my grandfathers medal card listed  Deserted  on it but he did not appear to have received any punishment as he married in 1917( possibly while on leave as suggested before) maybe he did not return from Northern Ireland to the war   he was Robert Pollock RIR  2/8261  he died in 1954
  Regards  Zion

[km1971]

The number and date he 'entered theatre' to qualify for the 1914 Star shows he was a Regular soldier. The medal card only seems to refer to the Victory and British War Medals initiated after the war ended. He would have been awarded the 1914 Star in early 1918. So it would be interesting to see the actual 1914 roll in the National Archives to see if he also lost that.

You will have to discover when 8261 was issued in the RIRif. It could be that he had completed his 12 year enlistment soon after 'deserting' and they decided not to prosecute. He would be under no obligation to re-enlist, even after conscription as that did not apply in Ireland. After 1922 they could not prosecute him anyway if he was in the Irish Free State.

Here is a link to an interesting thread - http://./forum/index.php?topic=2769.0 - the main loss was not having a Protection Certificate, given for an honourable discharge, and used as a testimonial when seeking work. Plus he would have lost his pension. But he probably thought he had used up all his luck having been in from the beginning.

A complete set of Police Gazettes is not available. These recorded desertions. If you contact the Open University library they may be able to tell you if issues from 1917-18 survive and if they can be viewed, and where. Some years are only available privately and being sold for several hundreds of pounds on microfilm.

Ken

[zion]

Hi Ken, thanks for your reply
Regards Zion

[zion]

hI, I find it really strange that in the local newspaper dated 25th May 1918 under heading 'our heros in memoriam' my grandfather Robert Pollock put in the paper about his younger brother Charles who was killed in action    Robert's medal card listed Deserted on it could this be a mistake on his card?  His other brother James who also died in the war his card had deserted stroked out and died on it
Regards Zion

[km1971]

The medal cards give the reference to the actual medal roll which are in the National Archives. They were signed by an officer to confirm the entitlement. These are only one line entries but in the remarks it will record if he deserted. And usually a line will be drawn through his name.

There are two - one for the 1914 Star, and one for the VM and BWM, which were issued together.

A year after they authorised the 1914 Star they authorised the 1914-15 Star, for men overseas in 1914 but not at the front, and men going overseas in 1915. In order to distinguish the original BEF, they were awarded the clasp and rose. These were issued later and are recorded on the same index card. His card does not mention these. If he had died his NoK would still be sent the clasp. The roses were sewn on the ribbons when worn without the medal. So were not sent to NoK of the dead. Clasps and Roses were not sent to deserters.

Ken

[zion]

Thanks again Ken

[zion]

Hi just found out from forces war records my grand father Robert Pollock  8261 royal irish rifles was wounded on 31/10/1914 and again on 4/10/1915  I wonder was he sent back home ?  he married in 1917 in Newtownards n Ireland regards Zion

[jim1]

How sure are you this Robert Pollock is yours?
There's another in the RIR L/Cpl. 18632 discharged (wounds) 27/10/16 so plenty of time to marry in 1917.
Attested 15/9/14.
Lived at 17 North St. Carrickfergus Co. Antrim.
Father Robert of the same address.

[zion]

Hi Jim 1  the service number 8261 is Robert Pollock my grandfather  from Newtownards  as listed in previous comments   Regards Zion