Page 82 - WW1 - 1915

Remembering Redditch Residents & WW1 Redditch Local History Society

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The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger – Saturday 2 October
1915

Deserter Captured at Redditch – At a special Court at Redditch, on Monday, Walter
Sessions, aged 46, living at Lodge Road, Redditch, was brought up in custody charged with
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being a deserter from the 52 Company A.S.C., stationed at Lee, Kent. – Police-constable
Green stated that on Saturday night he was on duty at Lodge Road, when he saw prisoner
leaving home in plain clothes. He followed him into South Street and said, “I have reason to
believe that you are a deserter from the army.” He replied, “Have you only just found that
out?” He took him to the police station and upon making enquiries ascertained that prisoner
had been living at home for three months, hiding there, and during that time a separation
allowance of 24s.11d. per week had been drawn. – It was stated that no information had
been received from the military authorities regarding prisoner’s absence, and that Police-
constable Green had acted on his own initiative. – The magistrate warmly commended
Police-constable Green, and recommended him to be allowed the highest possible award of
15s. – Prisoner was remanded to await a military escort. – At Wednesday’s Petty Sessions,
Superintendent Davis stated he had communicated with the officer commanding the corps
to which prisoner belonged, but had received no reply. – Prisoner was remanded to
Worcester for a week. If in the meantime a military escort applies for him he will be handed
over the military authorities.

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