HC Deb 05 March 1953 vol 512 c65W
77. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of deserters from the Royal Navy who have been absent for a period of more than five years.

Commander Noble

At the end of January, 1953, 1,487 men who had deserted from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines had been absent for more than five years. This figure does not include pre-war deserters from the Royal Marines, whose number cannot now be ascertained.