I hope this doesn't throw another spanner in the works in your search for your lang deid punter.
As he had deserted the army, have you any evidence that he also deserted his family?
As he had deserted and the army never found him, it is possible that he changed his name either to one linked to his/her family, or he adopted a completely different alias, and died and was buried under the name he was known by locally. Remember! deserters weren't exactly welcomed with open arms in communities back then. There was really no such thing as conscientious objectors, they were usually classed in the white feather category! There is also the slim possibility that he rejoined the army under his new name and may even had a new wifey to boot. As he died before 1917 (?) he may have rejoined to fight in WWI under pressure from his peers, family or community and died in battle under his new name. In which case your chances of finding him are not good. But then his age would probably exclude him from serving in WWI. Sorry about the ramble but just trying to think
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