GG Grandfather was an army deserter

[baggygenes]

Henry HERBERT and his service number was 17534.  He was a Sapper in the 7th Coy. R.E.  I got his military records from Ancestry.com.  There is a court martial sheet amongst the papers but it doesn't have a date on it or anything that I can read (which is only about 5 words & "South Africa" being 2 of those words), so it doesn't give me anything to go on.
Michelle

Michelle said she found the records under WW1 not that they were WW1 records - I found my GGrandads papers under that section of Ancestry and he didn't serve in that war either.

[barbaras daughter]

Hi Trevor,  I'm sure I found him in the WW1 section of Ancestry.  I know the info I have is the right fellow as his next of kin is shown as "Mother - Frances WARD".  The dates on the service record range between 1882 & 1885.  Possibly Ancestry put it in the wrong section???

Henry lied about his age when he enlisted.  It works out that he should have been born in 1862 going by the record when in fact he was born in 1865.

Thanks,
Michelle

[baggygenes]

If anyone is trying to find this record its listed as Henry Herbert, age at enlistment 20, Birth Parish/County  St Martins Hants,
Regimental number 534 (although its as michelle stated in the actual records)
Loyal Engineers (mistranscribed)

[t mo]

ok don,t get on to me  i,m ever so ever so sorry    .
so his discharged date is around 1885 is that right is does it give a later date ?only i,m getting even more confused .
find my past service /pension records have a cut off date of 1915 so presumably ancestry have records for ww1 1914 through till 1921 the rest from then on are still with the mod anyone agree ? .
[ think i, ll have a lie down in a darkened room for a while ]
regards
trevor

[mofid42]

Although included in Ancestry's WW1 collection there are a number of service records  that date before that time.

 I have found one for one of my in laws ancestors who joined the RGA in 1904 but deserted in 1905. There is no indication in the records if he was ever found or rejoined during WW1....infact I can't find him either!

Don't know why his service record has been included with those from WW1 unless the records of those who desert are kept for ever.

[barbaras daughter]

Thanks baggyjeans, I'm sure you have found the right entry for Henry HERBERT on Ancestry under the WW1 records.  The service record shows a regimental number of 17534 but 534 would be the correct one I'm sure as the stated age and birth parish/county are correct.

Trev, what can I say??  Sorry to have caused so much confusion but I believe it's Ancestry that has caused the confusion by having it in the wrong section.  Re Henry being discharged - I don't see anything anywhere within the record about him being discharged, as I said earlier, he went missing in November 1885 and then there was a regimental court of enquiry regarding his illegal absence in December 1885.  The record just states the facts of his disappearance without giving any conclusion.  There is nothing on the record after the December 1885 reigimental court of enquiry.

Kind regards,
Michelle

[t mo]

hi michelle
i was only teasing    , well this is how i see it all william does a runner there,s a regt ct of enquiry it,s all put on his record and just left gathering dust , find my past won,t have any record of him as all there records are for those soldiers who made it to pension .
ancestry have it presumably because of his desertion his records left on file in case he either gives himself up or is found [ normally all service records for soldiers not eligible for pension are destroyed approx 20 yrs after leaving the service ] so in essence what you have is all there is .
this is purely how i see it i must add as i,ve not come across this scenario before .
best wishes
trevor

[barbaras daughter]

OK Trev, thanks for your patience and help.  I do appreciate your help.

Regards,
Michelle