*Timaru Herald*, 2 August 1917, Page 7 DESERTER FROM THE 9th REINFORCEMENTS BEFORE THE COURT YESTERDAY The recent police campaign in connection with the enrolment of reservists, a man giving his name as Marks John was accosted in Fairlie by a constable and asked to produce his certificate. This, he said, was in his portmanteau, then in Timaru. He came to the latter place shortly afterwards, and was again accosted by the police. Failing to satisfy the constable by his answers to questions put to him, he was taken into custody, and was brought before the Court in Timaru on July 20th, charged with, being a reservist at the time of the enrolment of the New Zealand Reserve, he did answers questions put to him in a wilfully misleading manner, contrary to the War Regulations Act. 1915. On the application of the police he was remanded till July 28th, as it was stated that the case was likely to develop into more serious charges being laid against the accused. On July 28th, when the accused was again before the Court, a further remand was asked for. Senior Sergeant Egan stating that accused had made a confession that he was a deserter from the New Zealand Forces, and that his real name was John Currie. At Court yesterday, when accused was brought up for the third time, having been lodged in the cells since his arrest, Sub-Inspector Hastie said that it had been ascertained that accused had gone into camp with the 9th Reinforcements, but immediately prior to the embarkation of that draft for the front he had deserted, and had not been heard of till arrested. He also had an alias as Poddie [Paddie]. When charged with the offence the accused pleaded guilty. The Magistrate said he would do nothing with him but ordered him to be handed over to the military authorities. A member of the New Zealand Military Police was present and took charge of the deserter, who will be taken to Wellington immediately.

Hi All: The WWI NZSG CD has quite a number, 19, of John Currie entries (NZEF & Reserves, though some men will be listed twice). There is one entry for John Currie (last address Masterton) who is shown as a defaulter with NZEF No 10331. The Cenotaph database has No 10331 as William Edwards, who did go overseas with the 12th reinforcements, and he also has No 10331 in Archway. So was the John Currie arrested one of the 7 John Currie who were in the NZEF, or was he listed under another name after the arrest when he was handed back to the Army?. NB: John Currie; Nos 6/4018,11/988, 16075, 25676, 45292, 23/1606, 25374; last two not on CD as John Currie. Excluding John Currie with a middle name. Yours, John Wilson Surname CURRIE Given Name John Category Defaulters Regimental Number 10331 Rank Body or Draft Unit or Regiment Marital Status Last NZ Address Masterton Next of Kin Title Next of Kin Surname Next of Kin Relationship Next of Kin Address Roll Page Occupation Labourer Recruiting District Classification Comment Last Employer NZSG Index New Zealand World War 1 Service Personnel and Reservists Index Version 3 Data Sourced From NZ WWI Service Personnel & Reservists Index v3.0 Subject: [nz] John Currie, 9th Reinforcements. Did he serve overseas? What was his service number? > *Timaru Herald*, 2 August 1917, Page 7 > DESERTER FROM THE 9th REINFORCEMENTS BEFORE THE COURT YESTERDAY > The recent police campaign in connection with the enrolment of reservists, > a man giving his name as Marks John was accosted in Fairlie by a constable > and asked to produce his certificate. This, he said, was in his > portmanteau, then in Timaru. He came to the latter place shortly > afterwards, and was again accosted by the police. Failing to satisfy the > constable by his answers to questions put to him, he was taken into > custody, and was brought before the Court in Timaru on July 20th, charged > with, being a reservist at the time of the enrolment of the New Zealand > Reserve, he did answers questions put to him in a wilfully misleading > manner, contrary to the War Regulations Act. 1915. On the application of > the police he was remanded till July 28th, as it was stated that the case > was likely to develop into more serious charges being laid against the > accused. On July 28th, when the accused was again before the Court, a > further remand was asked for. Senior Sergeant Egan stating that accused > had > made a confession that he was a deserter from the New Zealand Forces, and > that his real name was John Currie. At Court yesterday, when accused was > brought up for the third time, having been lodged in the cells since his > arrest, Sub-Inspector Hastie said that it had been ascertained that > accused > had gone into camp with the 9th Reinforcements, but immediately prior to > the embarkation of that draft for the front he had deserted, and had not > been heard of till arrested. He also had an alias as Poddie [Paddie]. When > charged with the offence the accused pleaded guilty. The Magistrate said > he > would do nothing with him but ordered him to be handed over to the > military > authorities. A member of the New Zealand Military Police was present and > took charge of the deserter, who will be taken to Wellington immediately. >