Trying to verify family story about 'Uncle' John going AWOL during WWII

[ET in the USA]

This is what I have been told and what I have been able to verify, however I can't figure out how to find out about 'Uncle' John's discharge - or if he went AWOL. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
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Fact: Born Mervyn John Leonard Porter 12 Sep 1914 in Richmond Surrey, but grew up mostly in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

Story: He went up to London about 15 as an apprentice with Sainsbury. He was married 3 times & had lots of women.
1. Alice -engaged but never married.
2. Anita - wife during the war, they lived in Oxford & had 2 daughters.
3. Faye - wife after the war.
4. Mabel - she out lived him, they lived in Leyton.
He joined the REME (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers) during the war, about 1939-40 I think, but he didn't stay long. After a year or 2 he went AWOL and was never caught. He went by John Porter instead of his full name.

Fact: Mervyn John Leonard Porter - Bachelor age 28- married Fay Weisbach (otherwise Fanny Weisburg) - Spinster age 29-on 8 Sep 1943 in The Register Office, Dist. of Hackney in the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney. Grooms occupation: Corporal No. 7636141 R.E.M.E. Mobility ??Stores Assistant Manager.
Mervyn died 17 July 1986 (entry: July 1986 Est. Age 71 Waltham Forest 15 463 Birth 12 Sept 1914)
I have not found a marriage to Mabel, however there is a death for Mabel Kathleen Porter age 84 (birth 20 Aug 1913) in April 1998 in the Waltham Forest District
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I have looked on the Veterans:UK website, but wonder is there another way to just get a discharge date (or lack of one) other than sending a Kinship report, Full records request form, Death Certificate and the payment of 30 pounds?

Thanks
Elaine
Bothell, WA

[Geoffers]

I have looked on the Veterans:UK website, but wonder is there another way to just get a discharge date (or lack of one) other than sending a Kinship report, Full records request form, Death Certificate and the payment of 30 pounds?

The REME museum (http://www.rememuseum.org.uk/index.htm) web-site indicates that they do not hold personnel records and links through to the Veterans' web-site.

Since your chap was not caught - I cannot think of another way that information might be found other than through application as indicated on the Veterans UK web-site.

As your chap deserted, I'm not sure that there would be a discharge date.

Deserters details were circulated in 'The Police Gazette' - I believe in Supplement D. The Gazette remains closed for 75 years unless written permission is obtained from the Metropolitan Police to view it; closed copies may be held at Colindale Library.