JARVIS/EVANS Volunteer records

[ap1]

Happy to assist.

Looking at his conduct sheet, he appears to be a young 18yr old lad with a bit of growing up still to do. Many members of this forum with years of loyal military service will lay testament to the follies of youth! He obviously matured enough to re-invent himself and start afresh. He also continued to serve his country. No shame there Vikingtim.

Incidentally, my own G Grandfather was on the run for 19yrs. His son, was even given a false name at birth registration. However 19yrs later he hands himself in, completes a short sentence and ends up at Gallipoli aged 40yrs old.

[LarsA]

I watched the series "Anzacs" some years back, and one theme was about the german spring offensive in 1918. The CSM in the australian battalion had prior service in the Buffs, but not something he liked to dwell on . During the retreat they were intermingled with a Buff's battalion, where a company commander recognized him as a private that was wanted in the regiment for a criminal offence against an officer while serving on the Northwest Frontier, thereafter deserting (and absconding to Australia). The british officer informed the australian CSM that he was going to report him to face the music. Next thing, the germans attacks and the CSM organises the defence and behaves in way that would merit a MID or a bravery award. The two battalions part, and the Buff officer confronts the CSM and tells him that he is going to report to his CO that he has met an NCO that has behaved in the best traditions of the Buff's and nothing more. They salute each other.

Always liked that one, and prefer to think that all people are deserving of a second chance and forgiveness. Your ancestor obviously lived up to that and took his second chance - in the best traditions of his first regiment...

ATB,
Lars

[vikingtim]

Happy to assist.

Looking at his conduct sheet, he appears to be a young 18yr old lad with a bit of growing up still to do. Many members of this forum with years of loyal military service will lay testament to the follies of youth! He obviously matured enough to re-invent himself and start afresh. He also continued to serve his country. No shame there Vikingtim.

Incidentally, my own G Grandfather was on the run for 19yrs. His son, was even given a false name at birth registration. However 19yrs later he hands himself in, completes a short sentence and ends up at Gallipoli aged 40yrs old.

Thanks very much indeed ap1 [and also to Lars] for your thoughtful, kind and wise words here. I feel better that George did not desert his fellows in battle as such, and you are right- he does appear to have re-invented and hopefully redeemed himself by serving his country in two other regiments. He was doubtless a callow youth, with a wayward streak in 1896. By all accounts, he was later on a good husband and father.

I really am very touched by the responses my query has generated.