England not only sent convicts to her new colonies, but she also sent military personnel, many of whom became willing settlers by one means or another. The 'Sydney Gazette' of Saturday 18 September 1830 had this to say:
"We understand that the soldier who absconded from his post at the King's Wharf some time since, with the intention of exchanging a military for a pastoral life - in other words, to embrace the honourable calling of a bushranger - has been recently captured and is now awaiting his trial by a court martial. We are sorry to have to record the very frequent delinquencies among the military of late. It is distressing to see members of an honourable profession placed at the bar of a criminal court for offences such as those of which some of them have been convicted during the present sessions."
Deserters were mainly 'Privates'. Among them were many Irish, reflecting the poor conditions in Ireland, the pestilence, famines and poverty from which many wanted to escape at that time. To enlist in the army was one form of escape, to desert was the next logical step, to make escape permanent.
This book lists approximately 1200 deserters with personal description and other information on each. Compiled from source material in 'Government Gazettes' and the 'Sydney Gazette'.
Example of an entry: WILLIAM ELDER (Ship Manlius), soldier and labourer, 41 yrs, 5'4", ruddy freckled complexion, brown to grey hair, blue eyes; b. Perth; from No. 2 Iron Gang 6 Feb 1830.
Contents:
The Regiments
Apprehension
Naval Deserters
Regiments in New Zealand
Regiments in Australia
Selected References
1800-1820
1821-1830
1831-1840
1841-1850
1851-1860
1861-1870
Deserters from Her Majesty's Ships of War on the New Zealand Station
Index
