My grandfather Sidney Hunt was born in Birmingham 1886 and last heard of in 1933. He joined the Royal Horse and Field Artillery 34/36 Reserve Battery Feb. 1 1917 no. 213214 and is described as a baker, (news to me!)
He is described as deserted at Glasgow 6.8.1917 and declared a deserter 7.9.1917. He was arrested by the civil police for stealing a motorbike and sentenced to 12 months hard labour 26.11.1917. He returned to the army 5.6.18 but then court martialled for desertion but not until 24.12.1918 where he was sentenced to 56 days detention for being AWOL.
He is described as Class Z Army Reserve 21.10.1919 and demobbed 31.3.20.
He was later arrested and sentenced to 3 years for forgery in 1923. A letter from the Royal Artillery to the police at this time gives the above details but terminates, curiously, with a character assessment which is difficult to read but I believe is "fair".
Anyone with knowledge of military procedure any ideas about this which all seems a little odd? He seems to have been posted to France on 16.8.17 which gives a reason for deserting but on reflection I gain the impression that he would perhaps have welcomed a move to the front. Odd thing to say but he seems to have been moderately well educated; fairly resourceful and above all very plausible if resentful of authority and would, perhaps, have seen (probably criminal!) opportunities for himself in France. Why was he so leniently treated for desertion? Why was he retained in the army for more than a year after the end of the war? Would have thought they would have wanted rid of him ASAP!
After he "disappeared" in 1933 when my father would have been 18, there seems to have been a family pact never to talk of him again. Certainly my grandmother, who I've recently discovered knew exactly where he was, would never say a word if his name was mentioned.
One last comment he served time in Peterhead jail and Dartmoor. Must be something of a record for distance apart!