September 11, 1916, he had been admitted to Number 3 General Hospital, France, in a noisy, excited, insolent state: said he saw spirits of the dead; heard his sister urging him to lead a better life. Admitted to Netley early in October, 1916: now said he was a spiritualist, a Frenchman, had a quarrel with parents and enlisted in British Army, in army service; went to France August 12, 1914, was wounded at Loos, September, 1915, returned to front in February, 1916, “shell-shocked” June 1, 1916; lost consciousness after this—did not know where he was until July 22, 1916, when he had been arrested as deserter.
Admitted to Lord Derby Hospital October 14, 1916,—quiet, orderly, coöperative: desired to return to his regiment. He now gave a history: Enlisted British Army 1908, went to France, August, 1914, wounded February, 1915, at Neuve Chapelle; recovered; then attached to 45th Durham Light Infantry; blown up July 22, 1916, came to August 5, 1916, in hospital in Boulogne; then back to his regiment—but month later left without leave to pay off old score on a former comrade who had insulted his sister—arrested later by military police; put under observation in 65th Field Ambulance. No deterioration noted, school knowledge fairly well retained; no hallucinations or delusions (maintained he was a spiritualist, also that following shell-shock had suffered from insomnia and seemed to hear sister’s voice). Physically—small, well nourished, effeminate looking.
Oct. 23, 1916, he broke parole, but a month later returned to hospital under arrest. The police reported he had been masquerading as wounded French soldier attached to British army as interpreter; imposed on people; had two leaden types in his possession: “Interpreter R. le Auldere, attached to 1st Division.”
Story in hospital on return:—Born in France, did well in school, entered military academy at Paris. Quarreled with father—ran away to sea. Adopted by a French lady at Pembroke Dock. On account of drunken habits, quarreled again; joined army at Bristol, 1908. Went to France in August, 1914; January, 1915, invalided home because of “trench feet”—discharged as unfit. Reënlisted June, 1915, in Durham Light Infantry. January, 1916, again ordered to France. Blown up on Somme, July, 1916, by shell—remembered nothing until brought to No. 3 General Hospital. He remembers being accused of desertion but sentence was not passed, as he was held by the medical officer to have been irresponsible (as a matter of fact he was, at that time, considered to be a case of dementia praecox.)
Said that during twenty-five days, due to drunkenness, his friends had taken him to Manchester with them; arrested by police as he attempted to get back to hospital. He was now accused of wilfully lying and, confronted with his police record, at first denied it, but later gave following approximately true story:
Born, England, 1890; early life of a roving disposition, good at school, liked books of adventure. Drank early. Ran away at sixteen; was returned home. Ran away again—convicted of drunkenness. Three-year sentence to reformatory in 1910 for stealing: escaped. Rearrested for stealing in 1911: released in 1913, enlisted in army and deserted. Arrested in January, 1914, for stealing; sentenced to three years: released to rejoin army in June, 1915. Arrested as deserter: imprisoned but released in January, 1916; left for France. August, 1916, “shell-shocked,” sent to Field Ambulance No. 3, General Hospital, Netley, and Lord Derby War Hospital. Court-martialed for desertion: nothing came of it on account of medical evidence.
After breaking his hospital parole, he masqueraded in district as “R. le Auldere,” “Le Marchal” and imposed on various persons.
Psychopath almost Bolshevik.