British War Medal (Cruickshanks, DLI), Deserter

British War Medal (19-1010 Pte R. Cruickshanks, Durh. L.I.). With extensive copied service records.

Robert Cruikshanks, from Sunderland, enlisted on 10 May 1915. He went AWOL in December 1916 and received 21 days detention as punishment. He had two more periods of absence in 1917 and was declared a deserter. He returned to his unit in 1918 and signed a confession that he had deserted, receiving 28 days of detention. After his dentention, he was sent to France, where he remained until being demobilized in April 1919. His Medal Index Card confirms that he earned the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Copied correspondence between Cruickshanks and the Army in 1922 shows that this medal was sent to his home address. His disciplinary problems all occured in the United KIngdom. Once in France, he was promoted to lance corporal and retained that rank.