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Archiver > AUS-WA-CONVICT > 2002-01 > 1012315442


From: Sharon McBride <>
Subject: [CONVICT] Re: Convict Physical Descriptions
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 22:48:45 +0800


Vivienne wrote:
>Distinguishing marks include the following - D on left side, M S B C >E C
>left arm, pockmarked.
>I understand the pockmarked bit, nothing else.

Hi Vivienne,

Now this is an easy one for me as I have typed out hundreds of these for
the DPS site. Yes you got the pockmarked right. M S B C E C are letters
he has had tattooed on his arm the B C would stand for his name E C
would probably be a clue to a wife's name. M S - who knows - perhaps
even a previous girlfriend & then the wife was added on later. Many had
girls names tattooed on them. Not much they could do about it if the
romance didn't turn out. The D on left side is a brand = he was an Army
deserter. You will find many of the convicts with this brand of a D on
the left side. Some even
tried to cover it with a tattoo. You have to remember in those days they
signed up for life & many were press ganged as well and Army life
certainly wasn't a bed of roses. Good luck, he sounds an 'interesting'
chap.
--
Sharon McBride
Perth, Western Australia

Mailto:
Research Interests
http://members.iinet.net.au/~mcbride/

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