Court-Martial Finds Soldier Went AWOL
AUCKLAND, Sat. (Sp.).—Private Richard Norman Kelsall, 29, was found not guilty , of desertion, but guilty ■ of absence without leave and of losing ’equipment when he was tried before a district court martial yesterday. Kelsall was a former member of the Second NZEF who escaped from a pris-oner-of-war camp and served with the Greek guerilla army and Marshal Tito’s forces during the war. Lieutenant R. K. G.f Porter, New Zealand Regiment, who prosecuted, said Kelsall absented himself from Papakura on January 21. He was caught by the police in Rotorua on April 9 wearing civilian clothes. He was absent 77 days. Counsel for Kelsall (Mr J. N. Wilson) said the accused did not intend to leave the service. He was worried about his affairs and had left camp on the spur of the moment. Accused, who had been under arrest for 42 days since being apprehended by the police, was sentenced to 14 days’ detention for being absent without leave. Pay. amounting to £5/10/6 was stopped to cover the loss of equipment.
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Northern Advocate, 21 May 1949, Page 6
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176Court-Martial Finds Soldier Went AWOL Northern Advocate, 21 May 1949, Page 6
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