Army Record

[nelmit]

My Great Grandfather joined the Gordon Highlanders but deserted after only 7 hours (I'm glad to say or I don't think I'd be here). Five years later, in 1906, he was arrested and taken to Aberdeen where he was severely cautioned and fined before being returned to his family in Glasgow.

Would there be a record of this somewhere? I'm particularly interested in discovering the exact date of enlistment if possible.

Regards,
Annette

[Currie]

Hello Annette,

I’m not sure what could happen in the first seven hours of Army life that would make someone desert. Maybe the seven hours bit was an exaggeration or maybe he was not thinking clearly, for whatever reason, when he enlisted and did a runner when he came to his senses or when his family found out about it.

I guess that any proceedings against him would have been under Military Law rather than the Civil variety, e.g. Court Martial.

You’ll find the limited preview in this book interesting “Military Identities” by David French. There’s a chapter on “Deviancy and Discipline in the Regimental System” from page 180. It seems that sometimes desertion matters were dealt with by the local Commanding Officer although I’m not sure how that worked after a five year absence.
http://www.google.com.au/books?id=wgtX8 ... cipline%22

You could have a look at the Boer War databases in this thread although it’s unlikely he would be there. http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... light=boer

You could try a search of the National Archives. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/sear ... d=True&j=t

The NA also has a number of research guides. See British Army: Courts Martial, 17th-20th Centuries, and British Army: Soldiers' Discharge Papers, 1760-1913, etc. If he enlisted in WW1 and his previous papers were attached to those there’s the risk they were destroyed in the bombing. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cata ... ex.asp?j=1

Maybe the arrest or the result of the hearing was reported in the Glasgow or Aberdeen papers. The only Scottish newspaper online for 1906 is The Scotsman.

Hope there’s something useful there.

All the best,
Alan

[nelmit]

Hello Annette,

I’m not sure what could happen in the first seven hours of Army life that would make someone desert. Maybe the seven hours bit was an exaggeration or maybe he was not thinking clearly, for whatever reason, when he enlisted and did a runner when he came to his senses or when his family found out about it.............snipped

All the best,
Alan

How very polite and tactful of you Alan.:lol:

Sorry I've not replied before but I've only just seen your post, and very interesting it is too. I'll have a good old browse about.

Thanks a lot,
Annette