Army deserter KENT circa 1886

[piggywig]

I am trying to find out more about a John Thomas SCRIVENER born 1855 Leighton Buzzard, BEDS, who married a Sarah Ann CLARE in Leighton Buzzard in 1878. He pops up in KENT in 1885 and 1886 with children being baptised with the surname  :-\SCRIBBLER. By 1887, still in Christmas Lane, High Halstow, Hoo, his family have had a surname change to KING. By the 1891 census he appears to have disappeared completely (perhaps another name change I haven't yet spotted). Family gossip says that he deserted from the army. I know absolutely nothing about how to trace what regiment he may have been in. Can anyone point me in the right direction,please?