ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24828, 30 January 1942, Page 8

ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE

GUNNER BEFORE COURT MARTIAL AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 29. Requiring £SO to assist a girl, a gunner at a coastal battery absented himself without leave and came to Christchurch and, according to his statement, won over £SB playing darts. These facts were contained in a statement on oath made by the accused, Gunner Henry Allen Palmer, who pleaded guilty before a district court martial this morning to a charge of being absent without leave. A non-commissioned officer of the provost section stated that Palmer was found in the girl's house. Witness added, that the family at the house had been warned for harbouring absentees and deserters.

Evidence was given that Palmer had at the age of 19, enlisted in the N.Z.E.F., and then served in the Territorial infantry. He applied to join the Air Force, and finally he served with the Coast Artillery. He had absented himself on December 25, as the girl had told him that she required £SO to meet adoption charges, and he went to the Fun Fair and made £SB, of which he paid the girl £SO. The court's finding will be announced by Brigadier Mead.