I'm hoping someone can help me with a query about the US Army at the beginning of the 20th century please.

My grandfather was an American who came to England in 1905,joined the British army, married my grandmother and then deserted her,their newborn baby....and the army. I now know that he returned to USA. However, through Ancestry's US Military Records, I have now also discovered that he joined and deserted the US army at least twice (1899 and 1904 - those records are definitely for him) and possibly a third time too (1908 - not so sure that one is him).

My question is: how was this possible? In the British army, desertion was a very serious offence and if a deserter was caught or gave himself up he would have been severely punished.How was it possible for a man to rejoin the US army when, presumably, his name would have been on a list of deserters...or was it not seen as a particularly serious thing to have done? Why would he join at least twice, only to desert each time?

Any background information from anyone who knows about these things would be most welcome as I know nothing at all about the US military. My grandfather's actions are very puzzling to me!

Thanks,

Ann