You get a choice of two spellings of his first name, and a choice of two regiments, although the LNL would seem more likely. Did he get sent to South Africa?, did garrison duty?, or served a sentence and was discharged?
A PATRIOTIC DESERTER.
....Yesterday, at the Nelson Police Court, Kernahan Shields, a well set-up man, charged with being a deserter from the South Lancashire Regiment, stationed at Preston.
....The evidence was to the effect that on the same morning prisoner gave himself up as a deserter at the police office, and when asked by the Chairman (Alderman Gott), why he gave himself up, he replied: "I wanted to get back to my regiment at Preston. They are going out on Monday, and I want to have a smack at the Boers, if I can."—Prisoner, who was remanded in custody to await escort, deserted his regiment in 1886, and has thus been away for 13 years.
The Burnley Express, Wednesday 22nd November 1899
....The man Keirnan Shields, who gave himself up to the Nelson police a few days ago, stating that he was a deserter from the army, and had walked off from his regiment,the Loyal North Lancashire, stationed in Pietermaritzburgh, in 1886, was escorted back to his regiment last Friday. The Loyal North Lancashires have left for the seat of war, so probably Shields will have the opportunity of getting what he said he surrendered himself for. He told the Nelson magistrates that he gave himself up because he wished to rejoin his regiment, so that "I can have a smack at the Boers, if I can have a chance."
The Colne and Nelson Times, Friday 1st December 1899
