Deserter Relates A Strange Story

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1944, Page 4

Deserter Relates A Strange Story

IP.A.j WELLINGTON. Wednesday The story of a soldier who deserted from the Second N.Z.E.F. in England and enlisted for flying duties in the R.A.F. while on leave, was subsequently discharged from the service and then served in various ships till arrested in New Zealand. was told at a general court martial at Trentham. Accused was Ronald Twentyman Anderson, aged 31, married, formerly of the anti-tank unit in the Second Echelon.

The court’s finding will be announced later. Anderson stated that when arrested at Auckland he was a donkeyman on a coastal ship. In January. 1940, he volunteered for the Army, going to England with the Second Echelon. After six months he concluded that he was a misfit in the army, and, while on leave, enlisted with the R.A.F. as a wireless operator and air gunner. He could not stand up to the course and was discharged. He had told the R.A.F. authorities he had come to England as a seaman on a transport from New Zealand.

On Explosives Ship After discharge, he signed on with a trawler of a fishing fleet, then transferred to another ship, which picked up high explosives in Canada. He subsequently went in other ships to South America. New York. Jamaica, and subsequently joined yet another ship, in which he came to New Zealand. In conclusion, he said he did not desert the army through fear; he simply did not like it..