RootsChat.Com

I've just discovered that a "very close relative"  was selected to go down the mines in 1945. He was exempt from military service as a farmer but volunteered for the RAF and ended up in Canada training as a bomb aimer. However, by the time he finished training, the war was almost over and his number was pulled out for compulsory service down the mines.
The snag is, he appears to have taken exception to this idea and went AWOL, living under cover with an Aunt in Leeds.
I was wondering if any one knows what penalties he would have faced? Were such miscreants still under military authority? By the late 40s he was back living normally on the farm so presumably there was an amnesty?
Any info would be gratefully received as he never mentioned it while alive and I wonder how much trouble it caused in later years.
Fred

There's a bit about the Swanage coastguards in "The Evening Echo book of heritage in Dorset and the New Forest"by Roger Gutteridge, 1991.Ensign pubs. The article is called "Brandy on the rocks, The diary of a Dorset coastguard." The man in question was James Mitchell who was involved in brandy smuggling ops 1851-2 from Swanage, and served at the St.Aldhelms Head Station from 1855 until retirement in 1860.
Quote "Mitchell's diary forms part of a unique collection of material now owned by Mrs. Eileen Hardy of Swanage.The papers include docs. relating to Mitchell's CG career and the fortunes of his colleagues, letters from relatives, etc, etc.."
It might be worth trying the CRO at Dorchester to see if they have copies? The book was printed 15 years ago.
Also in the bibliography by R. Gutteridge "Dorset Smugglers," Dorset Pub.1984- might be worth a look?
Fred

Dad had a story that the vicar here in the 30s was the Rev. Darling and his gardener was Mr. Deere so every morning when he went to school he heard "Morning Darling, " "Morning Deere" coming over the vicarage wall.
I think the names are correct although the story has been improved somewhat.
Fred

Hi all, Our farm notebook from the 1880s says that a ton of limestone yielded 11cwt of burnt lime, so you saved 50% on transport costs by burning it at the quarry.
I seem to remember they buried the plague victims in "quicklime" (ie burned limestone) because the caustic nature of the lime broke down the remains and neutralised the disease. They did the same in the 19th century with cattle that died of Rinderpest and Anthrax.
Lime itself doesn't add fertility to the soil although it allows plants to make better use of nutrients already in the soil by neutralising acidity,hence the ditty in the book:"Lime and lime without manure, will make both farm and farmer poor."
How did they ever remember all these ditties?
Fred