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Help gg grandad was an Army Deserter!

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Jacqueline

Jacqueline Report 13 Aug 2005 10:57

Thanks Kevin, I kinda thought that's what would have happened if they had caught him. No wonder he went to London, from what I know of Whitchapel in those days it probably would have been quite easy to loose yourself there. He was lucky to live to 80 by the sounds of it. Jackie

Victor

Victor Report 13 Aug 2005 10:11

Kevin Love your explanation. Just GREAT. Victor

Kevin

Kevin Report 13 Aug 2005 01:48

In the 1840's until after WW1 desertion sometimes merited a morning out with your back against the wall and the rest of the day with the undertaker

Janet 693215

Janet 693215 Report 12 Aug 2005 23:11

My Grandfather deserted one month after joining up in 1906. They must've found him though 'cos he was discharged for felony 6 months later!

Jacqueline

Jacqueline Report 12 Aug 2005 23:03

I was quite amazed to find - whilst looking through the records on Family History Online. My gg grandad John James was an army deserter from 2nd Foot in 1840 - he was then aged 23. He was originally from Carmathon in Wales (the address on the record), and I'd often wondered how he came to be in Whitechapel, London, where he married gg grandma in 1844 (on the run maybe?). He is in every census in London up to when he died in 1897 aged 80 years. Anyone know what would have happened to him if they caught him? I would expect it was a rather serious offence in those days, I wonder if he was ever caught, any idea how I would find out?