Gunner Sidney Hunt RA His Military "career"

[RodChasH]

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!

[jim1]

Your assumption is I've no doubt correct in that he deserted rather than be sent overseas.
Few men welcomed being sent to France & it doesn't seem to me he was one of them.
Many men were retained on the Z list, this allowed them to return to their civvy life but could be called back at anytime if Germany broke the Armistice.
Being deemed of fair character isn't great as most men were described as excellent, very good or good.

[philipsearching]

Desertion of one's post in the face of the enemy would very likely have resulted in a death sentence.

Going absent without leave and effectively deserting by not returning was,although serious, not treated as severely.  The army would most likely have passed the information to the police rather than use their own resources hunting.  When caught a deserter could have been tried and sent to a military prison (with the equivalent of "hard labour") then afterwards escorted by the military police to end up at the front.  In 1918 the army probably decided that it was more important to have fit men at the front - they could wait until later before imposing punishment.

[km1971]

Can you check your dates? He seems to have been sent to France while he was absent.  Hard Labour was brutal. Oscar Wilde died three years after his release. So the army probably thought two months detention was sufficient. Deserters were not discharged after returning, as that would have been seen as an easy option compared to going to the front.

He was put at the back of the queue for going home. Priority being given to non deserters. He actually left the army when he was transferred to the Z Reserve. This was disbanded in March 1920. Hence the last date you have.

Ken

[MaxD]

 He wasn't sent to France (the 1923 letter confirms he didn't serve overseas), the 16 August 1917 reference looks like a posting order that was issued just after he had run off on 6 August.

 A factor in his treatment may have been the difference between desertion and absence without leave (the former indicates no intention to return and the latter a "temporary" absence).  Somewhere in the legal process, a charge of desertion may be reduced to AWOL.

It seems that regarding his character (and I agree with jim1 that the assessment as "fair" is pretty far down the scale) the letter was typed without an assessment which was put in later by hand showing perhaps that because some years had passed since his discharge the writer felt unable to put the even worse "indifferent" "bad" or "very bad".

maxD 

[RodChasH]

Thanks for the information, I'm suspecting his desertion, prior to the posting to France was because he knew it was coming.

As I've mentioned what little I know of him leads me to think that maybe he would not have been that unhappy about going. He was a physically tough man. He earned a living at various times as a boxer or doing strong man and acrobatic acts at the fairground. Or at least that's what my father has said. At various times he was also a photographer, engraver (as in forging pound notes!) and a market trader (D.r Sidney Hunt's famous cure for a stomach upset). Leads me to think he may have seen a way to earning himself a few francs when in France!

 Although most of the family clearly  refused to talk about him, my father told us tales of his life visiting various markets around the Midlands when he was a lad. He clearly had a great affection for his father. Shortly before she died my Aunt finally relented and spoke about him, again with affection. So perhaps he wasn't so bad!

[MaxD]

An early Arthur Daley - just the chap to persuade the beak on being charged with desertion that "Of course I meant to come back your honour".

[RodChasH]

I think you've got it there! "I borrowed a motorbike to get back, but then the police went and locked me up!"