Lewis James Davies RE 21269

[Morganllan]

Hello 

During the free access to military records on Anc*stry this week we found the record of Lewis J Davies of Royal Engineers. He lived at Fulham, England and enlisted as a Sapper at the age of 18 in 1900.

In 1904 he disappeared whilst serving at Simon's Town and then reappeared there around 1920 to confess to desertion. We assume he had been in South Africa while he was missing but is there any way that we can find out please? Would like to know what happened to him after 1904, and whether he stayed in South Africa or returned to England. Was desertion common at that time?

Many thanks for any help you can give
Morgan

[pampoen]

Hi try looking at the following database National Archives of South Africa (NASA).
KAB:
 Cape Town Archives Repository.
 SAB:
 National Archives Repository (public records of central government since 1910).
TBK:
 Cape Town Records Centre.

Tried looking today but the network is so slow its hard to log in at present.

Good luck
 
 

[Morganllan]

Hello 

Thank you for your reply and the advice on archives. I don't seem to be able to get into the site for some reason....

[pampoen]

Unfortunately thats the New South Africa, nothing works properly, you have to try at night when everybody is sleeping.The Network needs upgrading to handle the volume of enquiries.

Cheers Derek