Deserters

Sunday 21st February 1915: At the recent petty sessions(1) Privates George Partridge and Frederick Brown, Bedfordshire Regiment, were charged with being deserters from the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment at Landguard since February 2nd. Inspector Bliss said that these men had deserted and tramped across Essex, giving themselves up on the 5th to the Leicesters at Bishop’s Stortford, where Brown came from. They were escorted to Bedford Barracks, from which they escaped.

P. C. Darrington said that on arrest Partridge produced a piece of paper torn from a small notebook and on which was written in pencil the words “This gives Private Partridge permission to go to Bletsoe to visit his parents”. Brown, when arrested and asked for his pass, said he had one like Partridge but lit his pipe with it. The Chairman said: “That is about all it was worth”. Both were remanded to await an escort.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 19th February 1915

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(1) Today called the Magistrates Court