ADAMS, Arthur Edward
| Service Number: | 129 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 July 1915, Brisbane, Qld. |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rosewood, Qld., 30 December 1896 |
| Home Town: | Rosewood, Ipswich, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Result of War Injuries, Stanthorpe, Qld., 10 February 1925, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ipswich General Cemetery, Qld Church of England A |
| Memorials: | Rosewood Shire Council Roll of Honor, Woody Point Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Quartermaster Sergeant, 129, 31st Infantry Battalion, Brisbane, Qld. | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement 129, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked 129, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne | |
| 17 Mar 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, "Peaceful Penetration - Low-Cost, High-Gain Tactics on the Western Front", For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At Bapaume during action 14-17 March 1917, his work all through was of high merit. On the evening of the 14 march, with a fighting patrol of 50 men, he attempted to effect an entrance through a strongly wired position at Till Trench but was held up by machine gun fire which was causing casualties. This Warrant Officer seized a Lewis gun, and quickly taking up a position on the enemy's flank, he engaged the hostile gun at point-blank range, silenced it and thus saved many casualties. | |
| 17 Mar 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, "Peaceful Penetration - Low-Cost, High-Gain Tactics on the Western Front", For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At Bapaume during action 14-17 March 1917, his work all through was of high merit. On the evening of the 14 march, with a fighting patrol of 50 men, he attempted to effect an entrance through a strongly wired position at Till Trench but was held up by machine gun fire which was causing casualties. This Warrant Officer seized a Lewis gun, and quickly taking up a position on the enemy's flank, he engaged the hostile gun at point-blank range, silenced it and thus saved many casualties. | |
| 15 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 129, 31st Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Arthur Edward Adams's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Percy Harry ADAMS and Georgina Caroline (nee Bradfield) ADAMS, Redcliffe, Queensland
Arthur Edward Adams enlisted in the AIF on 15 July 1915 at the age of 18 years and 6 months. He was allocated to “A” Company of the 31st Infantry Battalion with the rank of Private.
His years of service would see him rise through the ranks from Quartermaster Sergeant on embarkation to Lieutenant on discharge.
Soon after arrival in France, he survived the disastrous attack at Fromelles that involved the 31st Battalion and led to half the officers and men of the battalion becoming casualties. He was, however, wounded in action whilst serving with his battalion at Trones Wood on 10th December 1916, suffering a gunshot wound to his temple. After a month in hospital and at the Convalescent Depot at Rouen, he returned to his unit.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during his battalion’s action at Bapaume on 14 March 1917, where he engaged and silenced a machine-gun at point blank range and consequently saved many casualties, he was recommended for and awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal.
It seems that sometime during his periods of leave in England or while at the Officers' Cadet Training Battalion at Oxford he also found time for love.
This photo shows Lt Adams and Miss Norah Kathleen Broadbent from Huddersfield in Yorkshire, on their wedding day. They were married on 11 August 1920 at St Andrews Church, South Brisbane. Norah's bouquet of white and pale mauve sweet peas were tied with the 31st Battalion colours (chocolate and gold).
After the service they returned to Rosewood where Arthur was a shire clerk. A position he had held before the war. He was the founder and first president of the Rosewood RSL Sub Branch.
After the war Arthur resumed his duties as Shire Clerk at Rosewood before taking up a position at Esk. The couple had two children prior to Arthur's death as a result of his war injuries in 1925. Arthur's elder brother, William George Adams [2229], enlisted in the navy.
Arthur died of ill health on 10 February 1925. He was only 28.
FUNERAL.—The Friends of Mr. ARTHUR EDWARD ADAMS, deceased are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, to move from Reed's Funeral Parlour, South-street, at 11.30, TO-MORROW (THURSDAY) MORNING, for the Ipswich Cemetery.
Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954) Wed 11 Feb 1925 Page 2
MR. A. ADAMS
Mr. Arthur E. N. Adams, formerly shire clerk at Rosewood and Esk, whose death is reported from Stanthorpe, was on his appointment to Rosewood probably the youngest shire clerk in Australia. He succeeded his father, who had been appointed to Redcliffe. Mr. Adams, jun., then was only 17 years of age. He served with great distinction in the 31st Battalion in the Great War, being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and his commission for conspicuous bravery in action. Returning from the front he took up his old position at Rosewood, subsequently going to a similar post at Esk. His health, however, caused his retirement, and he went to Stanthorpe, where he died. Four years ago he married Miss Norah Broadbent. daughter of the chief constable of Huddersfield, England. Their infant daughter died two years ago.
The Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 - 1934) Fri 20 Feb 1925 Page 15
Click images to start slideshow.