Deserters.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume IX, Issue 1200, 28 February 1902, Page 4

Deserters.

A Soldier’s Explanation.

Happening tho other day to come across the sergeant major of a wellknown Highland regiment who had been invalided after nearly two years service at the front, and who had taken part in tho actions of Belmont, Modder River and Magersfontoin, tho writer put (lie query. Do men really desert from the British army while serving in tho hold I< looked so improbable th it one could hardly believe'thc f.• •‘u lly stated by tho War Office au-bomies. A smile spread over tho non-com-missioned officer’s face as ho replied “My dear sir, desertions happen almost daily, and in my opinion there are two chief causes which are '( Sponsible for men going over to the Vioniy, viz., love, and harshness on

l lie part of the superior officers to wjurds the deserter. Lot me give yym an instance of the first. We

jad m our regimont, which went to fouth Africa from India, a ‘ranker ’ i that is, a follow that has come lown on bis luck, superior iu birth

and education to the generality of soldiers—who was really a smart fellow and a good soldier. He was in no way adictcd to drink or any positive vice so far as I knew. He served with especial distinction at Magersfontein, where we suffered so severely, and was recommended for tho Distinguished Conduct Medal, which, however, he nover got. Up to the date of this fight he had declined promotion, hut by the time we reached Kroonstudt he wore the two stripes of a full corporal. About this lime we were ordered to burn several farms where sniping by the Boers under covor of the white flag had happened. *• It was not at all a pleasant duty, I can assure you, hut orders had ro be obeyed, and one day, while Cor poral G and I were in charge of fifty-five men, we set fire to a farmhouse where the day before a couple of our men had been killed. The wife of the Boer, along with her daughter, protested vigorously. Th daughter was a remarkably handsome girl, and as a rather officious private under my command handled somewhat roughly a pet pony belonging to her she darted forward and struck the soldier in the face. It looked as though the soldier, forgetting manhood, would return the blow, but Corporal G , stepping forward, apologised to the girl, and he led the pony to a distance on the veldt, where he was followed by the Boer farmer’s daughter, the pair had a couple of minutes’ conversation, after which Corporal G returned to Ins duty. “ I think that the Boer girl must have fascinated the corporal, for at roll-call tho next morning he was missing, and two months later I heard he had bean captured with a remnant of a small commando who had been serving under Delarey. For a month he had been a married mail, having fallen victim to the blandishments of this young Boeresif I may use the term. He was tried by Court-martial, snd sentenced to be shot. Whether the sentence was carried out or not 1 do not know.

“ Brutality on the part of a superior officer sometimes causes a soldier to desert. You seo, in the army a noncommissioned officer, especially in the rank of colour-sergeant, has many opportunities of venting bis spile upon any unfortunate to whom he has taken a dislike. Let me give you an instance where a very promising young soldier deserted because of ill-treatment at the hands of Ins colour-sergeant, though it should be added that such cases are rare in these days. This soldier was only sixteen when lie enlisted, but gave his age as eighteen. This, of course is a criminal offence in the army, but fraudulent enlistment in this shape occurs every day. Y’oung fellows of good physique, and fulfilling every condition except that of age, join at a depot, and, disliking to servo as ‘ boys,’ give their ages as eighteen or above. This young fellow, Private F , soon after enlistment received his stripe, that is he became a lance-corporal, chiefly because of his smart drill and good education.

“ The lance-corporal, while doing guard duty one night, opened the gate to the color-sergeant, who was much the worse lor drink, but never reported the fact. He did, however, oc the following day, drop a word to his colour-sergeant, about the affair, hinting that it would bare placed him (the corporali in an invidious and unenviable position if he had mentioned lhe matter. The coloursergeant took umbrage at the well meant remark, and ‘ dug his knife,’ as the saying goes, into the young corporal. By some means or other the offender in the matter of temperance gst to know that the corporal enlisted under a false age, with the result that the latter got a month's imprisonment, and was reduced t-o the ranks. The war broke out and the broken-spirited lad wont with his regiment to the Cape. Hi fought well up to the time our troops entered Bloemfontein and especially distinguished himself at I’aardeberg-

" Before the advance to KrooustaJ was begun he deserted, and was found dead among a dozen Boers at Klip Drift. He still wore his khaki uniform, with his regiment’s name on the shoulder-straps, but liis helment was replaced by a soft slouch hat such as is worn by the Boers, and the weapon hi bad been tiring with was a Mauser.—Cassell’s Saturday Journal.