DESERTER'S UNUSUAL STORY

Chronicle (Levin), 5 August 1947, Page 5

DESERTER'S UNUSUAL STORY

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AUCKLAND, Atigust 4.- » The successfhl ca,M&e of a Isfew" Zea-- . land serviceifiSn ih' fhe'^ Ameriean Na-vy . In wfiich he fose ttr fhe rShk of Chief" . Petfy Offic6f after he had deserted' , froni tlie N.Z.E.T. in ttnfy last year, was descTibed at a eourt mar tial at. Papakura Military Camy. A-CchSed' was Ofiver Stepheri Rotifil'ei Aibeft Sfevens, ctg'ed 20" years, fofiherly of the 19th Army Setrvice CofpS, who pleaded giiiity to a charge of deserting his unit while on active service. . . When the war broke out in 193.Stevens ehlisted hrst iu the Navy, then in the Army and finally ih the Air Force but was deeiihe'd iu al'l three services. He obtained a job driving for the Ameriean -Red- Cross and went to the South Island where he made a faise dec'laration of his age and was accepted for the Army. Aecused left New Zealand with the (15th Reinforce mehts afid hostilities ceased befofe he reached Egypt and he eventually went to Italy where he was d'etailed for thcJ Force; During the Christmas and xSTew Year period of 1946-47, StevejiK was serving 14 days' imprisqnxnent Ihe fftet that he was in detehtion was overlooked during the eeiebrations. ACc'used broke out on January 1 and six days iater reached Le Havre in France. He told the United States i lnilitar'y police there he was a dis-

tressed Ganadian merChant seaman, tln uuthor'itifes provided- him with the neeessary papers and he reported to the United States War Shipping Adniinistration who gave him a position on one of their ships. He sefved with theAinerican coastguard until he surrenuered in Montreal on April 27 last. Captain Perrett said Stevens had marned an Ameriean girl on MdrCh 8, 1946, and a son was born on. Febrnary 7 next yehr. The bifth of his son, x-oupled with his past life, brought to accused's mind the responsibilitie.vvhieh he owed to his wife and he diu not want the child to be placed in the oircumstances Which he had experienced. During this time he had lived andei" the assuined nailie of Robert J. McGowan and was issued with the tieeessary identity papers. When he realised his position he decided, to surrendel' which whs a step he had ho need to take as it whs imptobable thav ne would have been found out. His wife was hot well after the birth at the ehiid but was working to mhintaii: the hoitte until her huSband returned. Appealing for lenieiicy, Captaih Per rott said StevehS' job in the Navy was probably more dangerous than that he wOuld have' und'erfcaken in the J Force. Ue had a good record in the Navy, having risen to the rank of Chief Petty Officef and the setvice wanted him buek. it was not a ekse of desertion undef lire or when hostilities were stili on. Cases of inen bciug absent Wifhout leave were cOmmon in italy after hos tiiities CeaSed. A tfiembet of the 3rd Battalion second relief draft Of the J Force, Papakura, Private Clarence AllTeu WiJliam Blackburn, aged 21 years, was, chafged with desertion and with losing oy neglect equipment, clothing aua regimfe'nta! netessaries. He pleaded nui guilty. The prosecution alleged that accusee was absent from May 6 until July 22 when he was ArreSted by the civil police in Auckland when he was in uivilian clothing.

The court aequitted accused on the charge of desertion but found him guilty of being ab.sent without leave. Similar charges were preferred against Private Thomas John Prestou, New Zealand Tempotafy Staff, Area 1, who also pleaded not guilty. He was absent from Papakura eainp from Febrifary .6 to July 12 aflegedly for domestic reasons which the defence could not disclose. AccusCd "Was found not guilty of desertion but guilty of being absent without lehve. The court announcdd that sentences would be pfomulgated later.