DESERTER AT SIXTEEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 157, 19 September 1941, Page 5

DESERTER AT SIXTEEN

BOY'S REMARKABLE SERIES OF ADVENTURES

KEENNESS TO JOIN ARMY

A deserter at 16. That is the remarkable position of Private Tommy Taylor, a Irishman, who faced a court martial at Witley, Surrey, after a year's travel round the world, states the London Overseas Daily Mail. In December, 1939, Tommy—he is now just turned 17—went to Canada to join up because he could not get in the British Army or Navy. He worked/ his passage to Canada, and, overstating his age, joined the Halifax Rifles. He became a bathman. Four months later he bought a suit of "civvies," boarded a ship, and worked his passage back to> Scotland. He tried again to join up in. Britain, but could not produce a birth; certificate, so he decided to return Canada and take his punishment. Then again a series of adventureswhich he told to t lie court. went to Liverpool and signed on a ship, hoping it was, going to Canada. Every ship I got on refused to tell me where it was going. This ona took me to Portugal and Gibraltar, and on the return journey docked ah Port Talbot, South Wales.. I went back to Glasgow and signed on the? Warwick Castle, hoping it was going to Canada, but it went to South. Africa. I left the crew at Capetown and signed on a Norwegian ship, which went to Persia, and eventually landed me back in Glasgow. Unable t° £ et back to Canada*? I went to London and gave myself up." After listening to> Taylor's story intently, the court adjourned for nearly two hours to cbnsider the sentence, which "will be promulgated.