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Resided town
Commemorated
Billiard Marker
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
We are fairly certain that this soldier is Michael Smith who passed through Peterborough East Station on 19 June 1916, on his way to or from Norwich, where his Battalion was stationed.
Michael was married to Mary (either Quinn, Cassidy, Burns or Harris) in Belfast on the 20 July 1909. They had three children, Mary in June 1910, John in June 1911 and Gerald in August 1914.
Michael attested on 7 December 1915, at the age of 24 and was transferred to the Army Reserves. He lived at 16 Cleland Street, Glasgow and was a billiard marker. He joined the 2/7 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH) and was mobilised on 11 May 1916. He was still based in Norwich in March 1917, when his conduct sheet reports that on 31 March he was 'Absent from Draft Party for Ripon at 09.15 till 21.30′ and also absent from a 'Church Parade on 1 April 1917 at 09.15', for which he was confined to barracks for seven days. The battalion moved to Taverham Camp in April and an entry on Private Smith's conduct sheet on 24 April 1917, reports that he was 'Late for fatigues and was confined to camp for three days'.
On 26 June 1917, he was declared a deserter and on 5 August 1917, was struck off the unit's strength. A letter in his service record states "Private Michael Smith 2/7 A&SH who deserted in month of June is residing in Belfast Ireland, can't give you an exact address but he calls for his letters at Higgins, 11 Joy Street, Belfast and goes under the name of O'Neil". On 12 October 1917, Belfast Police reported: "This man is not known at 11 Joy Street, Belfast, Mrs Higgins stated "No such man calls or has ever stopped with her"". On 17 October 1917, a letter from Office Commanding 7th A&SH T.F. Depot, Stirling wrote that 'Based on Belfast Police reply unlikely any further action can be taken". In October 1917, he was posted as a deserter in the Police Gazette, London. Unfortunately we have not been able to find his details in the Police Gazette.
The last known address for him was 29 Harvie Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow.
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