DESERTERS BROUGHT TO DUNEDIN
[Per United Press Association.]
INVERCARGILL, October 30.
The four deserters arrested in the district — Thomas Cooke, William Douglas Pearston, Lawrence Barton, and Wm. Wallace Yeoman — were removed under escort to Dunedin to-day. They had been hiding in the bush for about nine months, living chiefly on birds and fish.
The four men were brought to the Invercargill police station almost in rags and tatters. They were arrested at Elfin Bay, Lake Wakatipu on Monday, after having led the police a dance for months (the story runs) over the great acreage of wild country between the lake and the West Coast. They have been living largely on birds and fish, and for six months have had no news of the outside world. The party originally numbered six, but the life proved too arduous for two of them, and they returned to civilisation and arrest. The other four stuck it out, but by degrees they found the struggle too wearying, and, being completely out of provisions, they were, driven nearer the haunts of men, and were discovered at 4 a.m. on Monday. They were not armed, and submitted without resistance. All the men belong to Christchurch, though one, at the time of his escape, was a civil servant at Wanganui. One man escaped from Trentham camp. The men were handed over to the military authorities. -Evening Star, 30/10/1918.
DISTRICT COURT-MARTIAL
THREE MEN CHARGED
ACCUSED PLEAD GUILTY.
Major Greenhough (president) and Lieutenants Hunt and Shand (members) sat as a court-martial at the Central Battery yesterday to try three men who were recently arrested at Elfin Bay (Lake Queenstown) as being deserters. Lieutenant McCrorie acted as prosecutor.
A statement submitted by Constable Rowe, of Queenstown, showed that about 10 months ago he saw ono of the accused, Private Laurence Barton, at Glenorchy. He questioned him as to his military status, Barton informed the constable that he was a surveyor, and intended to go into the country to select a fall near which to establish a plant for the generation of electricity for the supply of Southland. Barton had two companions with him — Thomas Cook, a native of New Zealand, hotel porter, Wellington; William Wallace Yeoman, secretary of the Socialist Party, Christchurch. William Douglas Pearston, a native of Scotland, butcher, Christchurch; a man of the name of McKay, aged about 60 years, and Peter Scott Ramsay, just liberated from gaol for seditious utterances at Christchurch. The enrolment cards of the men eligible under the Military Service Act were filled in with aliases. The men suddenly disappeared, going into the bush. The statement continued that on October 27 Constable Rowe received a telephone message from Kinloch stating that four swaggers had been seen at Elfin Bay. He hired a launch, and proceeded to Elfin Bay, where he found Barton, Cook, Yeoman, and Pearston asleep in a shepherd's hut. He arrested the four men and brought them to Queenstown. They stated that they did not intend to go to the front to fight — they preferred going to gaol.
Private Laurence Barton, who was described as a civil servant in Wanganui in civil life, was the first tried. He pleaded guilty.
Captain Myers said accused was drawn in the ballot at Wanganui in the Gazette of November 6, 1917, but he failed to turn up for concentration to camp.
The accused said he was drawn in the ballot on April 17, 1917, but that was of no account. He would like to take exception to some of the statements put in by Constable Rowe. The statement that while they were at large shepherds' huts were broken into by them was not correct — they never saw such huts — and since they had been arrested two other men had been arrested. The huts might have been broken into by them.
The President said the only thing that concerned the court was the charge of being absent without leave. The court-martial would take no notice at all of these statements in bringing in its verdict.
The accused was asked by the president if he had any reasons to urge in mitigation of his offence.
Accused: To put it plainly, I am a Socialist and an anti-militarist, and never in my sane senses would I take the life of a fellow man. Having these opinions I cannot in any way comply with "The Military Service Act of 1916." Accused added that he did not wish to give evidence on oath or call any witnesses. He thanked the court for the hearing it had given him.
Sentence will be promulgated in due course.
Private William Douglas Pearston was the next man to be tried. He pleaded guilty.
Captain Myers said accused was drawn in the ballot gazetted on July 4-j 1917 Accused had failed to turn up for medical examination in Christchurch.
Accused said he had no questions to ask.
In answer to the president's question whether he wished to make a statement in mitigation of his punishment, accused said: Being a Socialist I do not hold with the military, especially compulsory militarism.
Sentence will be promulgated in due course.
William Laurence Yeoman was the third accused. He pleaded guilty.
Captain Myers said accused was drawn in the ballot in the Gazette of October 2, 1917. He had failed to turn up for medical examination at Christchurch.
The accused said some of the statements put in by Constable Rowe were not correct.
The President assured the accused that any statements which appeared in the document, whether correct or otherwise, carried no weight with the court.
Accused said he had nothing to say in mitigation of any punishment which might be given him. He did not desire to give evidence co to call any witnesses.
Sentence will be promulgated in due course.
The fourth man, Cook, is to be tried at Wellington, and it is understood that Ramsay has given himself up in Christchurch. -Otago Daily Times, 10/12/1918.
DESERTERS CAPTURED
A ROMANCE Of THE BUSH
The Bradleys and their Garden
Surprised by Police "Tourists"
(From. "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
For many months It has been common knowledge that military deserters were harboring in the wild region to the west of Lake Wakatipu; but, owing to the inaccessibility of this trackless wilderness, the utter impossibility of making a thorough search of the thousands of gullies, cliffs, bays, and forests in which suitable hiding places might be established, and the absence of any settlers who might catch, glimpses of the refugees, the task of locating deserters has been beyond the powers of the military. Recently, however, a party of four was landed by a civil policeman in the Wakatipu district, and as an indirect result
THE MILITARY POLICE GATHERED in another place on November 23. These were the Bradley Bros., Roy and Reg, who had been missing from Christchurch for over a year. Reg, who was attached to the 28th Reinforcements, came down to Christchurch on final leave, and failed to return, Roy was
POSTED AS MISSING shortly after the announcement of the fifth ballot, in which his name figured. The circumstances of their arrest make rather a romantic story, while the yarn is made more worthy of the telling by reason of the fact that at least two well-known Otago personalities are likely to be called upon to offer explanations as to why they should not be legally implicated for assisting deserters to evade their military responsibilities. The authorities have m their possession information of an incriminating character, and "Truth" readers need not be surprised if some sensational developments follow in the near future. The first captured party of four, headed by one Yeoman, late secretary to the Christchurch Socialist Party, had rather an adventurous and trying time, as they moved about in places frequented by man, and were hard put to it to furnish satisfactory explanations of their presence amid the wilds. They eventually let it be understood that they were a. party of surveyors taking levels in connection with the proposed hydro-electric scheme, Which is being advanced by the Southland League, speaking learnedly, ambiguously and profoundly upon dumpy levels, theodolites, barometers, and such-like. One of the party was armed with a formidable looking roll of blank parchment, which the simple folk of those regions concluded were
PLANS FOR THE GIGANTIC UNDERTAKING.
When Yeoman serves his time, and writes of his experiences, there will be offered to New Zealanders one of the prettiest comedies they have read for many a long day; for Yeoman has much ability, a keen, sense of humor, and is possessed of a facile and picturesque pen. A diary which he kept was handed in at the court-martial, but as much which is therein written is of a private character, it would not be fair to do more, than make this brief reference to it. Suffice it to say that it bears traces of intelligent observation, a keen conception of humor and considerable literary skill.
While Yeoman and his crowd were content to undergo their hardships in places where they ran considerable risk of detection — a risk which, eventually, did bring them under the notice of the village constable — the Bradleys struck out for solititudes "where none intrude, by the deep sea." They established themselves at Big Bay, wherever that is. Here they took possession of a comfortable hut, and proceeded
TO PLANT A GARDEN. On November 23, when they were located, the potato shaws were over 2ft. high, while their onions were well advanced — a tribute to the fertility and the early season of this out-of-the-way locality. Game abounded. Pigeons, wekas, and kiwis are here found in thousands. The rivers teem with trout and whitebait. Nor were the other essentials of food lacking. From two cows they obtained all the milk and butter they required — one cow per man is fairly good going in the milk and butter line. Possessed also of pack-horses, they were able to obtain other necessary supplies, but whence these supplies came has not been divulged. They were well armed, and had, together with plenty of ammunition, a carbide motor lamp, which came in useful for the trout. They also had fishing nets. Very systematic and carefully-planned precautions were taken against the possibility of detection. The hut commanded a lookout along a ten mile stretch of level beach, the only means of approach from civilisation. In various places, many miles apart, were stored stocks of dried fish, sufficient to provide sustenance for several weeks, in the event of a hasty departure being necessitated. And here the Bradleys lived for months, a glorious life, amidst the gorgeous surroundings which Nature has so prodigally bestowed upon this part of the world, and with everything that man could wish for at their disposal. They were apprehended only
BY THE MEREST FLUKE.
When Yeoman and his party fell into the hands of the Queenstown police, they threw some papers into Lake Wakatipu. A day or two later a diary (not the one previously referred to) was washed ashore at Elfin Bay, and from information thus gained it appeared as though the Bradley Bros, were camped in the vicinity of Lake Mavora. .Accordingly, on November 10, Lieut. Skelley (Assistant Provost Marshal for Otago), Corporal Quarterman (N.Z.M.P.) and Guide Bryant left Kinloch, Lake Wakatipu, to search for the fugitives. At the Greenstone Hut (where Yeoman and Co. had camped) they found a stuffed, kiwi, which, the guide knew, had come from the West Coast. So, through the rain and bush, the party tramped to Lake Mavora, only to find that the information gained from the diary was misleading — the Bradleys were not there. They then set out for the Coast, following the Milford track to Lake Howden, whence they struck out by way of the Hollyford river and Lake McKerrow, eventually landing on the Coast at Martin's Bay, after a journey of ninety miles, which took five days to accomplish. There was no sign of the Bradleys there. Having no food, wet through to the skin and as uncomfortable a lot of military policemen as any soldier would like to see, the party decided to make for Big Bay, fifteen miles farther north, to see if anything in the way of food and shelter was obtainable there. It was raining in torrents, and the two Bradleys, who never dreamed that anyone would venture along on such a day
NEGLECTED THEIR LOOKOUT, and made themselves comfortable around a blazing fire. Their surprise was equalled only by the famished policemen's delight when the three searchers walked right in upon them just after night had fallen. In response to their anxious inquiries, the policemen sold that they were tourists, and, as they were in mufti, the Bradleys accepted their explanation and immediately set to work to extend hospitality to their visitors. The policemen were in a quandary. They were forced to hide their identity in order that they might be fed and dried. So, with the true military police spirit, they kept their mission to themselves, partook of the hospitality offered and entered into a game of cards with their victims. They were taking no chances with these men, whom they were doubly glad to have found on such a night. In the morning, after Lieut. Skelley had slept on the floor, across the doorway to prevent an escape, in the night, they disclosed their identity, and the Bradleys quietly submitted to being brought back to civilisation. The Bradleys evidently did not know that they might have refused to budge, as the Regulations enjoin that prisoners, if they so desire, must be "conveyed" distances of over three miles. However, they offered nothing in the way of demur or resistance, and pointed out tracks that were much shorter than those taken by the police. Five days later the party of five left Queenstown, after another, long walk through the bush, in the midst of continuous
SNOW, RAIN, AND GALE. Reg. Bradley is to be court-martialled at Trentham, as he is a deserter from camp, but Roy was charged at Dunedin with failing to attend for medical examination on November 25, 1917, at Christchurch.
In answer to the charge he said that he was a Quaker by religion, and consequently was adverse to military service. He produced a certificate granted by Magistrate T. A. B. Bailey m March, 1913, exempting him from Territorial service on account of his religious beliefs. Holding the views he did, and not wishing to cause any more trouble than was possible, he took the only course that was open to him. When he was drawn m the ballot he was away at sea, and when he inquired at the post office for his military papers he was told that they must have been sent back to Wellington. He did not apply for exemption, as he understood that Quakers were compelled to undertake non-combatant service, and he objected to that. He was found guilty, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. -NZ Truth, 4/1/1919.
Thomas Cooke's Army record shows that he was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, and was working as a hotel porter in Wellington when chosen by ballot for enlistment. His religion is described as "freethinker" - a word which often meant atheist.
On November 28, 1918, he was charged as follows:
1: Deserting His Majesty's service.
2: Losing by neglect his clothing and regimental neccessaries.
3: Disobeying in such a manner as to show a wilful defiance of authority, a lawful command given personally by his superior officer, in the execution of his office.
4: Disobeying a lawful command by his superior officer.
He pleaded guilty to all charges. His sentence was two years' prison with hard labour. Presumably he was being paid by the Army for those two years, for the sentence included stoppage of that pay, and the details of that stoppage reveal the cost of uniform items of the day:
Jacket: L1 3s 7d. Puttees: 5s 7d. Greatcoat: L2 6s 6d. Forage Cap: 4s 2d. Brass Titles: 6d. Underpants: 4s 2d. Working Shirt: 5s 6d. Undershirt: 4s 2d. Jersey: 6s 1d. Pull Through: 6d. Sight Protector: 6d. Oil Bottle: 6d.
Total: L5 1s 9d.
This page of his Army record closes with the words: "This man is a Defiant objector."
It would seem that he did not serve his two year term and was granted Leave Without Pay on being demobilised on November 28, 1918.
William Douglas Pearston, although reported with rank and Army number, is a rare omission from the usually complete "Online Cenotaph." He was a butcher by trade and continued his trade after the war.
Lawrence Barton is also an omission from the "Online Cenotaph" but his name is reported in 1941 as appealing against compulsory military service, stating that "he regarded taking part in warfare as immoral." His appeal was allowed.
The name, age and city are right for the following story to describe the demise of Lawrence Barton.
MAN DIES IN FIRE
HOUSE DESTROYED YESTERDAY
MILKMAN GIVES ALARM
An elderly man who lived alone died during a fire which destroyed his home at 15 Willow street, Christchurch, early yesterday morning. The man was carried from the house by a neighbour after a milkman had given the alarm, but failed to recover. He was:
Lawrence Barton, aged 56, single.
Flames and smoke from the house were noticed by a milkman, Mr Kevin Goldman, who was on his round in 5 Oxford terrace, near Fitzgerald avenue, about 3.15 a.m.
Mr Goodman roused Mr. Jack Locke, of 392 Oxford terrace, which backs on to Mr Barton’s property. They climbed the fence and with an axe battered down the door, rushed through the blazing livingroom to Mr J Barton, who was lying in the passage.
He was found to be dead. When the fire brigade, which been called by Mrs Locke, arrived the fire, which is thought to have started in the livingroom of the single storey, six-roomed house, had gained a good hold. Because of the terrific heat firemen had difficulty in getting close enough to break windows for water from the hoses.
The livingroom of the house was completely gutted, a wooden back wall to the kitchen was destroyed, as were doors and panelled woodwork and ceiling throughout the building, The side walls are of brick.
Houses on either side are only five feet away, but the fire did not spread to them. When the alarm was given, Mr A. R. Brown, of 17 Willow street, moved his children to safety and Mrs L. Anderson, of 13 Willow street, and her husband threw water on an intervening fence.
Mrs Anderson said Mr Barton had lived alone for 13 years after living with his sisters in the house for about 20 years. He suffered a stroke about a year ago and had a bad heart, his health declining in the last few years.
An inquest was opened before the Coroner (Mr E. B. E. Taylor) yesterday morning and adjourned sine die after evidence of identification had been given. -Press, 19/8/1954.
William Wallace Yeoman was a coachbuilder when called up and, apart from his connection with the NZ Socialist Party and his court-martial, does not appear in the pages of New Zealand newspapers. After the war, when socialism and the Labour movement were growing powers in the country, seem seems absent.
A SOCIALIST FUNERAL.
There was a Socialist funeral at Sydenham Cemetery yesterday, the first of its kind held in Christchurch. Mr Edgar Mann, a young member of the Socialist body of this city, died from peritonitis, and by wish his comrades resolved to accord him a Socialistic funeral.
The coffin was borne on the shoulders of Comrades E. J. Howard, F. B. Cooke, Reg. Williams, R. Daly, J. Mc Getterick, and W. Yeoman, to the hearse. There were no flowers, the pall being the "Red Flag." Many of the assemblage wore red ties or a bow of red tied on the breast to show their connexion with the Socialist party. At the cemetery a grave had been opened in the Methodist portion. Round it the mourners gathered and a comrade started the strains of "The Red Flag":
The people's flag is deepest red. It shrouded oft our martyred dead,
And as their limbs grew stiff and cold, Their hearts' blood dyed its every fold.
The strains were taken up those who knew the words. Then Comrade J. McCombs, M.P., delivered a funeral oration, after which the second verse and chorus of the Socialists' song were sung:
It waved above our infant might, When all the world seemed dark as night.
It witnessed many a deed and vow, we can not change its colour now.
Then raise the scarlet standard high, Within its shade we'll live and die
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll keep the Red Flag flying here
Other orations were delivered, some further verses of the Socialist song were sung, and slowly the Comrades lowered the coffin into the grave. -Press, 8/3/1916.
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