Deserter

Monday 10^th of January
 

Quite a kerfuffle here today.  Apparently one of the young gunners from the Royal Artillery unit

A Sergeant in the Royal Artillery.
 

deserted over the week-end.  Dad had to organise the search of the Barracks and then contacted Sgt Buckley at the police station and ask them to search around Paddington and Sydney.  Dad said it was such a ridiculous waste of time and he was not at all happy. He said that this was not part of his normal duties, but as they are so short staffed Major Evans tasked him to do it. 

Mamma said she didn’t think Sgt Buckley would have much chance of finding him, because Sydney has grown so fast in recent years, he could have gone anywhere.  Dad replied, “Too right! And he’s had the week-end to do it in.  May as well start the report tonight, they’ll never find him!”

Mamma suggested that it will be the first of many, not everyone wants to go back to England and as word gets out about the recall, more soldiers will desert.  Mama looked across the table at Dad with that “you know what I mean look”, when she said this.  I know Mama doesn’t want to go to England, neither do I, but what can Dad do? He’s in the British Army and if he is told to go to England, then he has to go – Dad says a good soldier obeys orders whether he likes them or not.