A Royal Marine Light Infantryman who deserted in 1879

[overlandermatt]

My great grandfather was a Royal Marine Light Infantryman from Plymouth who went to Australia in 1875 aboard HMS Sapphire. I would love to know more about this - I've attached a section of his service record and his discharge sheet.

His name is Benjamin Thomas Pope born East Stonehouse, Devon in April 1859.

He deserted in early 1879 for a couple of weeks and was subsequently jailed for the offence. I have a suspicion that there are records in existence that might tell me more. I only have a standard Ancestry account so don't know how best to pursue this.

Thanks in advance!

Matt

[Milliepede]

There is an entry in the Victoria Australia Police Gazette from 1879 with a description of him and describing him as a drummer and offering a reward for his apprehension. 

[~MERLIN~]

There are mentions in the NSW Police Gazettes and the Sydney Morning Herald:

Desertion from Her Majesty's Service:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/251895545

Water Police Court:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13429775

Apprehension:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/251895645

[overlandermatt]

There is an entry in the Victoria Australia Police Gazette from 1879 with a description of him and describing him as a drummer and offering a reward for his apprehension.

Thanks Milliepede. Did you access that from Ancestry? I'm just trying to work out how to access some of these articles - I don't have the full access unfortunately! The following was in the New South Wales Police Gazette which might also have been printed in Victoria.

From H.M.S. “ Sapphire.”
Deserted at Sydney, on the 15th January, 1879, drummer,
Benjamin T. Pope, bom 1859, at Stonehouse, 5 feet 6 inches
high, brown hair, gray eyes, fresh complexion, no hair on face.
A reward of £3 is offered for the apprehension of this man ;
of £2 after three months desertion ; of £1 after six months
desertion ; no reward will be paid after twelve months deseri
tion unless specially ordered by the Admiralty.

[overlandermatt]

There are mentions in the NSW Police Gazettes and the Sydney Morning Herald:

Desertion from Her Majesty's Service:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/251895545

Water Police Court:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13429775

Apprehension:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/251895645

Merlin, that's fantastic! Thank you so much for that. I'm not sure whether there would be anything else that exists - I'm very pleased to find one let alone 3 news articles. He wasn't on the run for long and didn't get too far. He was back on board a ship the same day as the appearance.

[Milliepede]

Yes on Ancestry but you need World access to see entries from Australia.

It was exactly the same as the article you posted so you haven’t missed anything there 

[overlandermatt]

I'm interested to know a little more about the case of the marine who deserted from his ship back in 1879. I have a question relating to the use of telegrams at that time - I believe it was possible to send a telegram between England and Australia but was this something that was common?

I know that the father of the marine that deserted had died just 3 weeks before he ran from his ship. I wonder whether families (poor ones in particular) would have been able to share important news during those times.

Any thoughts much appreciated!

Matt

[Neale1961]

Sending a cable (telegram) was an expensive process.
This newspaper article gives you information about it.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13425297

[overlandermatt]

Thanks for that Neale. At 10 shillings per word I would expect that wasn't affordable. Good to know!