The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with A.

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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

Pfc. John Carroll Adams .     United States Marines F Co 2nd Bn, 4th Marine Regt.   from United States

POW Camp Fukuoka 17 in Japan




Spr. John Henry Adams .     British Army 663 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers (d.17th Jun 1940)

Henry Adams of 663 Artisan Works Company, Royal Engineers lost his life in the sinking of the Lancastria.




CPO. John Robert Adams .     Royal Navy




Sea. Johnnie B. Adams .     US Navy USS Boise (d.12th Oct 1942)

Johnnie B. Adams, Jr. Seaman Second Class, was a crew member on the USS Boise who was killed in one of the turrets during the battle of Cape Esperance on 21th of October 1942 (per a letter to his family from the Secretary of the Navy). Johnnie was eighteen years of age and was from Houston, Texas. If anyone has any information on Johnnie we would love to hear from you.




Joseph B. Adams .     US Army

I am looking for information about a B17 plane that went down on 5th April 1945 on its return to England, and the soldier on that flight. Joseph B Adams was 20 years old.




AC. Kenneth Paterson Adams .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (d.16th Jan 1944)

Kenneth Paterson Adams died aged 18 whilst serving as an Aircraftman 2nd Class with the RAFVR. He was the son of William B. J. Adams and Esther Adams (nee Paterson) of Jarrow. Kenneth is buried in Jarrow Cemetery.




Pte Leonard D Adams .     British Army 6th Btn. North Staffordshire Regiment   from Burton on Trent

(d.19th November 1944)




ML Adams .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

ML Adams served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Gnr. Oliver John Adams .     British Army 1st Airlanding Light Regiment Royal Artillery   from Whilton, Northamptonshire

(d.24th Sep 1944)

My Grandad Oliver Adams served with the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment, Royal Artillery. He was the son of Thomas and Kate Rose Adams, of Whilton, Northamptonshire and husband of Ellen Louie Adams, also of Whilton He fought during the Battle of Arnhem, Operation Market Garden and died on 24 September 1944 aged 29 years old. He is now buried at Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Arnhem. His daughter, my mother was born in April 1945.




F/O Philip John Adams DFC.     Royal Air Force 7 Sqd.   from Essex, England

John Adams was a Navigator with the Pathfinders.




Sgt. R A Adams .     British Army Royal Warwickshire Regiment (d.9th May 1945)

Sgt R.A. Adams from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment was among those killed in an air crash on the 9th May 1945. The aircraft a Lancaster Bomber III, RF230-JI-B, from 514 Squadron was detailed to take part in Operation "Exodus “, the evacuation of ex-prisoners of war.

In addition to the crew of the bomber there were 24 army POW’s, ranging from private to captain from various regiments, as well as a lieutenant in the U.S.A.A.F, who was not on the manifest.

All the names of the aircrew and ex-POWs on board the aircraft are listed below.

Aircraft Crew Members.

  • D. Beaton F/Lt.
  • A. McMurrugh F/Sgt.
  • R.B. Hilchey F/Off. RCAF
  • J.G. Brittain F/Sgt.
  • R.M. Toms P/Off. RCAF
  • O.C. Evers P/Off. RCAF
List of POWS on board aircraft.
  • Name. Regiment or Corps. Camp. Pow.No.Army No. Rank. Born.
  • R.W. Wheeler Royal Engineers 07B 340 85759 Capt. Kent
  • P.A.T. Campbell Royal West Kent Regt. 07B 224 124175 Lt. Southend-on-Sea
  • E.T.T. Snowdon Royal Artillery 07B 1123 94190 Lt. West London
  • R. A. Adams. Royal Warwickshire 344 12497 5111739. Sgt. Coventry
  • E. L. Belshaw. East Surrey Regt 383 6774 2650397 Cpl. Wigan
  • A. G. Thompson Worcestershire Regt. 344 6259 5253245 Cpl. Worcester
  • G.W. Franks Kings Royal Rifle 8B 2584 6844798 L/Cpl. London
  • H. Cummings Lancashire Fusiliers 344 35265 3461448 Fus. Salford
  • O. Parkin Lancashire Fusiliers 21D 4948 3448706 Fus.
  • J. Roe Irish Guards 8B 3308 2719806 Gdsm Birmingham
  • A.J.S. Crowe Royal Artillery 7A 125860 840450 Gunner Preston
  • A. N. Labotake SAA Gunner
  • W.L. Lindhelmer PAL
  • M. Maschit PAL
  • T. Anderson Cameron Highlanders 7A 137173 2940187 Pte. Glasgow
  • W. L. Ball Queens Royal Regt 8B 7289 804169 Pte. Ashford,Mx
  • S.J. Bayston Green Howards 7A 4751822 Pte. London
  • R.A. Betton K.S.L.I. 344 139030 4032985 Pte. Shropshire
  • R.E. Clark Royal Scots 7A 14286 5954856 Pte. Bedfordshire
  • W. Croston Pioneer Corps 8B 3737 2185985 Pte. Salford
  • R. Danson East Surrey Regt 7A 135108 3392078 Pte. Lancashire
  • R. Turnbull Durham Light Inf 8B 35785 4451208 Pte. Gateshead
  • P. Yates Leicestershire Regt 07B 83763 14208422 Pte. London. SW
  • T.J. Edwards Rfn.

The Lancaster took off at 0726 on the 9th May 1945 for the continent from Waterbeach and commenced the return flight from Juvincourt in France at 1215 hours. A message giving their time of arrival was received at his base at 1219 from the pilot, shortly afterwards the pilot reported he was experiencing trouble with the controls and was putting back to Juvincourt. But a further message sent by the aircraft at 1225 stated that it was making a forced landing. Flares were fired off from an airfield on route indicating permission to land to which no acknowledgment was received.

At 1230 hours this aircraft was seen by a number of witnesses on the ground to approach Roye Ami airfield from the west at a height of 10,000 feet. After circling the airfield twice the aircraft was seen to go into a steep bank to port, before going into a flat spin and crashing into the ground one mile east of Roye Ami.

On investigation into the crash, it was not possible to account for the necessity for a forced landing, as the aircraft seemed to be fully serviceable or to establish definitely the cause of the crash, which must therefore remain obscure. The position of the passengers to the rear of the fuselage however indicated that the aircraft may have been tail heavy, this could have resulted in the pilot finding the aircraft to be dangerously heavy and believing that there was something seriously wrong with the aircraft, he prepared to make a force landing at the nearest airfield, where he lost control and crashed. But whether their incorrect positions were assumed before or after difficulties arose when the aircraft became out of control could not be determined.

All the passengers and crew lost their lives and were buried at Clichy Northern Cemetery, which is on the northern boundary of Paris.




Pte. Ronald Adams .     British Army 4th Btn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry   from Beaconsfield, Bucks. England

My uncle, Ronald Adams, a gardener pre war, served with the 4th Bucks Battalion (TA) Oxford and Bucks L.I. He was captured while acting in the rearguard defending those escaping from Dunkirk June 1940. He was then interred in Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf until 1945 and was force marched westwards due to the Russian advances. He wrote several cards to us (Kriegsgefangenekarten) all heavily censored. He told me after the war he had worked in coalmines and in industry during his captivity. He returned to live in Slough after his marriage to his fiancee Lena, also from Beaconsfield. If any one has any further information, please contact me.




Pte. Scott Adams .     Canadian Army 1st Btn. Royal Highland Regiment of Canada

Scotty Adams sent a letter in 1945 to members of my family in The Netherlands. He was a cook with the 1st Battalion, Royal Highland Regiment of Canada. In the letter, he thanks my Dad's family for their hospitality and friendship during the time he was on duty in the Netherlands. My dad was a child in his early teens and remembers this soldier visiting the family Bakery that his aunt Anna owned. They lived in Herpen, a suburb of Nijmegen.




TF Adams .     British Army Royal Artillery

TF Adams served with the Royal Artillery British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




LAC. Thomas Adams .     Royal Air Force B5022 Airfield Construction Squadron

Thomas Adams was an apprentice in the Printing Trade his service was broken to join the RAF age 19 he worked in the field units laying airstrips and roads he went through France, Belguim, Holland and Germany On his death age 72 I was clearing out a cupboard when I found his war diary which he never told any one he had

War Diary of Thomas Adams B5022 Squadron 1716764 LAC. Entry into France 08.30 hours 12/7/1944 Work in the field

Here is a short exert from his diary Monday 1/1/45. We got to the flying field at Eindhoven 09.00 hours started work on the main road9.10 I looked up and saw a line of aircraft coming towards us knowing some of our aircraft had gone out we took them for ours so we just carried on working Rat Tat Tat We all went down on our bellies as cannon shells and MGBs flew all around us the first wave passed over us and I got up and ran for the shelter I saw several more waves of aircraft coming towards us they were flying very low almost on the ground and had black crosses on them. Germans. We must have been seen running for the shelter as we got shot at, several fell thanks to God I made it to the trench I crawled along and got in a 12" pipe under the road Jack was there too. Hell was going on up above Gerry shooting the whole drome at his will fires were burning aircraft on fire and the bomb and petrol dumps ablaze. Our aircraft returning took up the fight and several Gerries came down the others cleared off their work done. What a sight I hope to never see again.




Section Leader Tom William Adams .     Auxiliary Fire Service   from Twickenham

My Father, Tom Adams worked at Mortlake power station during the day and then after tea, went off to the fire station to serve as an Auxiliary Fireman. One of the tales he told was about Kingston-on-Thames going up in flames after some bombing. On the side of the river, apart from the smell of the tannery, there was a big timber yard that had a corrugated iron roof. This went up in flames and father was told to get on the roof and put water everywhere. As the flames got bigger and the roof got warmer the soles of his boots started to melt so he and his mates stuck the hose down their wellies in a vain effort to keep cool. Eventually they had to clamber off the roof as their feet were getting burnt. Apparently there was quite a row about him getting another pair of boots.

Another occasion happened on his way home from work on his bike along Chiswick embankment. He heard the sound of the infamous doodlebug. When it stopped he looked up and saw the thing coming down so he took cover behind the low wall of someone's house. The bomb landed in the river with a loud "wooomf" in the mud. The tide was out and it showered everywhere with smelly mud. Apart from the windows shattering in the cottage behind him and large pieces of the odd boat landing on him he was ok. Only when he got home he smelt terrible and was covered in mud, he couldn't have his tea till he had a bath which made him late for his fire duty!




Tom Adams .     British Army 8th Army




Gdsm. Vivian John Adams .     British Army 1st Btn. Scots Guards   from Isle of Wight

(d.9th Feb 1944)

Vivian Adams was my father's brother, our Uncle. Our father idolised his brother and regaled us with tales of their childhood and happy upbringing on the Isle of Wight. War separated them, as it did for families across our Isles.

Viv signed up immediately upon the start of hostilities. A giant of a man, he presented himself to the Scots Guards recruiters and so began his 4 year association.

On the 9th of February 1944, Viv was a spotter involved in the landings at Beach Head, Anzio, as part of the initiative to take Monte Casino. Guardsman Viv Adams lost his life on the beach - as a result of mortar fire - we believe. Due to the heavy number of casualties, it was some days before his death was confirmed.

My father had kept an anthology of his war experiences, including his brother's death. It is a revealing piece of work, especially 'And in the morning', the tribute to his brother. I never met my Uncle, but grew to know him through the memories passed onto us through our father. Guardsman Adams lies at peace in the Beach Head Cemetry, Anzio. When our father visited the cemetery he could not locate the memorial. My father died recently and he asked if family could visit to pay their respects and take him with them. That is what we shall do. Pay our respects to a fallen hero and reunite brothers.




L/Cpl. Walter Russell "Wink" Adams .     New Zealand Army T Trp. Long Range Desert Group   from Whangarei, New Zealand

Wink was captured 31st January 1941 at Jebel Sherif, Libya by an Italian ground force after being caught in the fire of Italian planes. T Patrol was part of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). Wink drove the Ford 01 V8 pilot car called Te Rangi (The Leader) with Cpl. Roderick and Major P.A. Clayton at the head of eleven especially adapted trucks (either Chevrolets or Fords). The patrol consisted of 27 to 32 men, the principal role of this force being reconnaissance, charting, and intelligence gathering. They were a self-contained, independent body capable of travelling hundreds of kilometres into enemy territory over some of the most difficult and arid terrain in the world.

Wink spoke to us about learning to speak Italian using his basic knowledge of schoolboy French. During his time in Sulmona (Campo 78), he was able to speak to the guards and became an interpreter for some of the officers. From what I remember when speaking to Wink, learning Italian and becoming an interpreter allowed him to stay in camp rather than working in the nearby coal mines, a job he detested and felt would be the end of him if he was forced to continue.




William Walter Adams .     Army Cameronians   from Leyton, London

I was adopted as a young child and did,nt discover the knowledge of my real Father until mature years. I would be really grateful if perhaps there are any survivors of the war who served with my dad. All I know is that he was in Burma , was wounded and sent back to England and died later from complications. He did have a military funeral I think in the late forties or the beginning of 1950. We lived then I think in Ivy Gardens Leyton E10




Sgt. William "Tiny" Adams .       from Lowestoft

My dad Sergeant William Adams, his number was 96084, was in Stalag 8b. (I have a Christmas postcard sent to my mother dated 3rd Jan 1942. It was drawn Thomas Burke Stalag 20a). He later went to Stalag 383. He was captured in Crete. He was a commando and because he was tall people called him "Tiny". He lived in Lowestoft.




William Adams .     United States Marines

Prisoner in Fukuoka 3b.




Spr. William Adams .     British Army 233 Field Coy Royal Engineers (d.18th Sep 1942)

William Adams died at the age of 31, he was the husband of Miriam Adams (nee Robinson) of Primrose Jarrow. William is buried in Benghazi War Cemetery.




WO. William Adams .     Royal Air Force 152 Squadrons   from London

My father William Adams used to sing me this song:

Oh merry, oh merry, oh merry are we

We are the boys of 153

Blow high blow low, wherever you go,

153 Squadron are too blinking slow.

I think the original may not have contained the word blinking. I have my father's log books which record 1482 operational hours principally in Beaufighters with 153 and 272 Squadrons.




Spr. Willliam George Adams .     British Army 663 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers (d.17th Jun 1940)

William Adams of 663 Artisan Works Company, Royal Engineers lost his life in the sinking of the Lancastria.




Pte. Joe A Adamsky .     US Army Infantry   from Whippany, NJ

Joseph Adamsky was my Father-In-Law. He was captured in Salerno in September 1943. POW in Stalag 2-B for 13 months before he escaped. The family is very interested to find out if anyone remembers.




Hugh Adamson .     British Army Royal Ulster Rifles

I joined the Army when I was 16 (1940) and served until the summer of 1946. During that time I served with the Royal Ulster Rifles in gliders and the 2nd Btn Parachute Regiment in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. I was taken prisoner in Sicily but escaped, was wounded and taken prisoner again at Arnhem in Holland. I spent the rest of the war in a Stalag. I would not have missed it when I look back on it all.




Sgt. P. H. Adamson .     102 Squadron




Sgt. R. H. Adamson .     102 Squadron




Marine. Ronald Victor "Styx" Adamson .     Royal Marines HMS Highflyer   from Plymouth

Ronald Adamson served with the Royal Marines and was in HMS Highflyer in 1945.





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