Deserter from HM service

[paulsplace2009]

Hello

I have just discovered my great grandfather was a deserter from H.M.S Karrakatta in Newcastle, New South Wales, when he was 16 years old in 1897.

I know it's a bit of a long shot.. but wondering why he would have deserted his ship and what would have been the punishment for this?

Thanks

Paul

[Jamjar]

I have ancestors who reportedly 'jumped ship', to stay in Australia.

I suppose punishment would depend on whether they were pursued and found, or not.

Would you like to share his name?

Jamjar

[JACK GEE]

and story if known. Sounds like an interesting tale.

Jack

[muss]

H

  Maybe Typhoid  Fever  http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231800588?searchTerm=Karrakatta%20newcastle&searchLimits=l-decade=189|||l-year=1897

Muss

[Johnf04]

Is this him?
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3661039?searchTerm=%22H.M.S%20Karrakatta%22&searchLimits=exactPhrase=H.M.S+Karrakatta|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom=1897-01-01|||dateTo|||sortby=dateAsc

[majm]

Seems HMS Karrakatta had some ‘issues’ among its crew. 


NSW Police Gazette 1897,  here's two entries that may be of interest.

  page 256, 21 July 1897. 

Deserters from Her Majesty’s Service
From H.M.S. Karrakatta at Sydney on 16th July 1897
Thomas Coan, stoker, born at Sligo, Ireland, 21 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, gray eyes, brown hair, fair complexion.
John W Harrison, stoker, born in Yorkshire, England, 27 years of age, 5 ft 31/2 inches high, grey eyes, light hair, fresh complexion, L.O. and I.H. on left forearm.
A reward of £3 will be paid for the apprehension of each of the abovenamed deserters if apprehended within two years.
The above reward is in addition to a reward of £5 offered by the New South Wales Government.

  Page 288, 18 August 1897
Deserters from Her Majesty’s Service
From H.M.S. Karrakatta at Brisbane On 9th August 1897
John William Harrison, stoker, born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, about 27 years of age, 5 feet 31/2 inches high, light hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion, LO and IW tattooed on left fore-arm.
A reward of £3 will be paid for the apprehension of the abovenamed deserter. 


JM

[paulsplace2009]

Hi everyone

Thanks for all the replies....

Sorry, I should have out his name here.

He was Archibald McVicar Kerr

Thanks

Paul

[Jamjar]

Did you get the information from his UK Naval record?

Jamjar

[cando]

From my resource - South Australian Police Gazette  3 Nov 1897  Page 176.

His naval record states Karrakatta  28 May 1897 to 20 Sep 1897  Character VG  Discharge etc  R. Newcastle 20 Sep 1897.  Nothing to indicate he deserted.