No.G/81028, Private, William ADAMS
Aged 36
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William Adams was born in Brandon on 26th February 1881 (Thetford Q2-1881 4B:389), son of Charles and Susannah ADAMS (née FARROW). 1881 census...Aged 5 weeks, he was at Thetford Road, Brandon with his father Charles ADAMS [29] labourer; his mother Susannah [30]; brothers Walter [8], Charles [5] and George [3]. All were born in Brandon. 1891 census...Aged 10, he was in Thetford Road, Brandon with his widowed mother, brothers Walter (labourer in timber yard), Charles and George (both furrier's labourers) and sister Mary A [8] born Brandon. His father had died, aged 33, in 1884. He married Jessie PALMER on 4th August 1900(Thetford Q3 -1900 4B:749). 1901 census...Aged 20, a stonemason's labourer, he was living in Thetford Road with his Brandon born wife Jessie [19]. His brother had married Bishops Stortford born Louisa, had a daughter Ellen [1] born Bishop's Stortford and mother Susannah was with them for this census in Nursery Road, Bishops Stortford. 1911 census...Aged 30, a bricklayer's labourer, he was at Thetford Road, Brandon with his wife Jessie and daughters Jessie [8], Phyllis [4] and Eveleyn [6 months]. All three daughters were born in Brandon. |
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Enlisted in Attleborough. As No.5730 he seems to have been a Territorial in the 70th Provisional battalion of the East Surrey's which became the
15th battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, and he was re-numbered to 290019. He was in the Royal Sussex Regiment from 15th to 28th August 1917
before being transferred to the Royal Fusiliers on 29/8/1917. De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour has his number as 228565. From "SteveE" on http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums it appears he was renumbered to 228565 for admin reasons on posting to 1st Bn, London Regiment and on joining the 2nd Bn in the field, renumbered yet again to G/81028. His De Ruvigny's entry reads:- "ADAMS, WILLIAM, Private, No.228656, 2nd Battn.(7th Foot) The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.), s. of the late Charles Adams, by his wife, Susanna, dau.of Charles Farrow; b. Brandon, co.Suffolk, 26 Feb.1881; educ.High Street School there; was a bricklayer; joined the East Surrey Regt. 1 Nov.1916; subsequently transferred to the Royal Sussex Regt., and to the Royal Fusiliers; served with the expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 14 Aug.1917, and died at No.48 Casualty Clearing Station 13 Oct.following from wounds received in action. He m. at Brandon 4 Aug.1900, Jessie (113, Thetford Road, Brandon, co.Suffolk), dau of the late Charles Palmer and had three daughters: Jessie Beatrice, b.30 Sept.1902; Phyllis Maud, b.31 Aug.1906 and Evelyn May, b.17 Sept.1910." From "Brandon at War" website it appears that his Chaplain,in a letter to Jessie, said he was wounded in the attack at Langemark on the morning of 9th October. The sister in charge at the C.C.S says he was admitted on the 10th with a shoulder wound from which he was not expected to recover. From the war diary is appears the attack was in the direction of OLGA HOUSE and CONDE HOUSE, eventually reaching TRANQUILLE HOUSE. THE ROYAL FUSILIERS IN THE GREAT WAR by H. C. O'NEILL, O.B.E. has recorded "Battle of Poelcapelle:- The weather now appeared to have definitely broken. In the early days of October it had been intermittently rainy. On the 7th heavy rain again fell all day. These conditions interfered with the artillery preparations ; and, though it was possible to crush two hostile attacks on the 7th, the perfection of counter-battery work, which was needed to cover a further advance, was impossible. The night of the 8th was almost as terrible as any experienced in the campaign. It was impenetrably black. The ground was deluged with rain, and a high wind drove the rain into the men's faces with the sting of whips. It was perilous to stray from the path, for the ground was now for the most part a trough of mud. Under such conditions it was not easy to assemble for the attack in the early hours of the 9th. But somehow the troops had become inured to such conditions, and the 2nd Battalion were in their places at zero. The attack was launched at 5.20 a.m. in conjunction with the French. Once more there was little from which to draw satisfaction in the role of the battalion. They were in support to the Lancashire Fusiliers, on the right of the 29th Division, about 500 yards south of the Ypres-Staden railway. Captain Hood, with two platoons of Y Company, pushed forward to reinforce the leading battalion and came under severe rifle fire after crossing the Conde House- (or Houthulst-) Poelcapelle road. But, advancing from shell-hole to shell-hole, they got forward about 200 yards east of the road and were then brought to a stand-still by sustained fire from the right front. The 4th Division on the right could not be located, and Corporal Floyd sent out with a patrol reported a gap of 300 yards on this flank. The second objective had not been made good; there were no supports, and, accordingly, Captain Hood consolidated the line from about 250 yards north of Conde House to about 100 yards north of Miller's House. Second Lieutenant Saul, with the right platoon of Z Company, followed Y Company. The other officers of Z became casualties ; and Saul followed Hood, passing through a few groups of Lancashire Fusiliers in shell-holes, until he was drawn off to the right, near the huts, about 300 yards north-east of the Mill on the Poelcapelle-Houthulst road, where he was held up by rifle fire. On the left X Company, followed by W, advanced by the watch, passed through a line of Lancashire Fusiliers in shell-holes and prepared to advance on the third objective. They were in contact with the Worcesters on the left, but could not locate any one on the right ; and the line of Lancashires who were thought to be in front did not exist. They went forward once more by the watch ; but the right was held up by short shooting of our own barrage at Conde House, and when they could advance again the protection of the barrage had been lost. It was at Conde House that Sergeant J. Molyneux won the V.C. From the trench in front of the house a machine gun kept up a persistent fire on the advancing troops. Molyneux, who belonged to W Company, seeing that the attack was completely checked, at once organised a bombing party to clear the trench. Many of the Germans were killed, and the machine gun was captured. Molyneux then jumped out of the trench, and, calling on the men to follow, rushed forward against Conde House. He was well in front, and, when the others arrived, he was in the thick of a hand-to-hand fight. So swift and impetuous had been the assault that the struggle was soon over. Some 20 to 30 prisoners were taken, and the position, which had threatened to bring the whole battalion to a standstill, was captured. His action was as serviceable as it was daring. But despite the heroism of the advance, the final objective could not be reached. No troops were found ahead, and the second objective had not been taken. A line was therefore established with the right about 200 yards below the road which runs from the Poelcapelle-Houthulst road north-east to the Ypres-Staden railway, and the left resting on the Poelcapclle-Houthulst road about 200 yards below the railway. Later is was added that "it was a filthy advance ; it was costly ; it was unsatisfactory. The battalion had advanced according to plan, but apparently no one else had. There was no obvious landmark to stake out the day's work and round off their ordeal. But it was not so much a misfortune of the battalion's as a general characteristic of the operations in this phase of the battle." The Bury Free Press of 27th October 1917 reported TWO BRANDON HEROES FALL IN BATTLE The sad news has been received at two homes in Brandon of men who have given their lives in the great war -PrvtWilliam Adams, Royal Fusiliers, husband of Mrs Adams, Thetford Road. He had been in France only a short time and died at a casualty clearing station. He was 35 and leaves three children. The other is Prvt Bertie William Docking, 1st Norfolk Regiment, who was killed instantly on the 9th. He was the third sonof Mr. H.J.Docking, Town Street,and was 21. Mr. Docking has three other sons on active service. from co-ordinates on war dairy and detail above, this would appear to be their position when the attack halted. click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information photo of William and headstone, courtesy Brandon at War photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
