L/Cpl 22906 Robert Henry Adams

• Age: 30
• From: Toxteth, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 18th March 1917
• Commemorated at: Agny New Milltary Cem
  Panel Ref: G.6

Robert Henry Adams was born in Liverpool on the 21st October 1886 and was baptised on the 09th November 1886 at Christ Church, in Everton. He was the son of William Henry Adams and his wife Mary (nee Rogers) who were married on 11th October 1885 at St Mary’s Church, Walton. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 101 China Street, Everton, Liverpool. His father, William Henry, aged 25, born 1866 in Liverpool is a butcher, whilst his mother, Mary, is aged 27, born 1864 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have three children at the time of the Census, Thomas aged 7, born 1884 and Robert Henry aged 4, born 1887 are both scholars, and Margaret was born in 1891. Their children were all born in Liverpool. They also have William Henry’s father living with them, his name is also William and he is aged 52, born 1839 in Ireland and he is also a butcher. His sister Mary Adams aged 16, born 1866 in Liverpool and nephew William McClure aged 16 and employed as a coppersmith’s apprentice are both living at the address.

His father William Henry, died in 1899 aged 33, and was buried on the 26th March at Walton Park, his address at the time of his death was 4 Crosfield Road, Edge Hill, Liverpool.

The 1901 Census shows the family have moved to 3 Plimsoll Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool. His mother, Mary, is a widow aged 37. She has three of her children living with her, Thomas aged 17, a railway porter, Margaret is aged 10, and Elizabeth aged 7. Also living with them is mother’s sister-in-law Mary E. aged 26, and a boarder Fred Heyes 23, a furnishers cutter. Robert is not present. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 40 Windsor St, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.  His mother, Mary, is a widow aged 44, (now showing as born in 1867) and has no occupation listed. She has two of her children living with her at the taking of the Census; Robert Henry aged 24, is a ship’s steward (He was on the crew list for the ship "Chama" in 1910) and Margaret aged 18 is a domestic servant. Also living with them at the address are a nephew Herbert Metcalfe aged 17, born 1894 in Liverpool and he is employed as a grocer’s assistant, and a boarder Frederick Shaw a married man living by private means and he is a resident of Stirling, Scotland. 

He married Florence Connor at High Park Street Registry Office on 10th December 1912. They did not have children. On the 1911 Census she was the 18 year old stepdaughter of Henry Baker and his wife Mary Ellen of 66 Alt Road, Bootle.

Whilst at sea Robert’s ship was wreckedas reported in the Liverpool Weekly Mercury on Saturday 27 September 1913: 

THE BAKANA WRECK 

A GRAPHIC STORY 

Mr R. H. Adams, ship’s cook and butcher on board West African steamer Bakana which wrecked at Half Assini, August 27, denies that there were any wild scenes on board, as has been stated. He says at that time of the mishap the captain sent word all up and down the coast for assistance The next morning news was received that the Warri and Ebani were proceeding to the assistance of the Bakana from the windward. When the Warri and Ebani came up, the sea was very rough, and the captain and the agent made an attempt to try and save the ship. Meanwhile passengers were taken ashore with their effects. On the captain proceeding to the Ebani, the surfboat that he went out on capsized, and, having apparently got stunned, he was lost sight of. He was picked up two or three days afterwards about two and half miles to the westward of Half Assini. Two days after the capsizing took place, while the majority of the crew were ashore, Kroo boys broke into and looted the stores. It is not true (Mr Adams states) that a file of native soldiers, in charge of a white corporal, had to be brought on board to restore order. The only trouble, he says, was through the black people belonging to the ship taking charge of the white members’ quarters on shore, and the District Commissioner had to rouse them up and dislodge them. Mr Adams added that there were sufficient lifebelts on board the Bakana for double the number of people she carried. The crew did not proceed home. Part remained on board until the cargo had been discharged, and will most probably proceed home in the Taraquah next week.

Robert enlisted in Liverpool on 10th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion as Private 22906. He gave his age as 28 years and 39 days and his occupation as a butcher. He was described as being 5 feet six and a quarter inches tall, weighed 125lbs, 36” chest with fair physical development. He stated his religion as Church of England. His next of kin was his wife Florence, of 34 Hinderton Road, Higher Tranmere, later 75 Windsor Street, Liverpool. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

His mother Mary remarried to Frederick Ernest Shawe on the Wirral in 1915. 

He attended a course in basic cooking at Aldershot in February 1915 suggesting he may well have been a cook.

His service records also show that his wife Florence was staying at 83 Commercial Road in Grantham in July 1915 during the Pals stay in the town. There is correspondence from her on Pals headed notepaper concerning her marriage certificate, which she states was at home in Liverpool and would be sent upon her return to Liverpool.

He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 26th July 1915 and appointed paid Lance Corporal on 6th May 1916.

He arrived in France with his battalion on 07th November 1915 and was treated for a short period with Myalgia from 30th November 1915 - 01st December 1915. He was granted leave to the UK from 24th January 1917 to 04th February 1917.

His brother, Thomas, died, aged 32, also in early 1917 in Hoylake.  

Robert was killed in action on 18th March 1917 aged 30.

20th Battn. King’s Liverpool Regt. - War Diary

AGNY – NUEVILLE VITASSE

18th March 1917 

1 a.m. Each company in front line sent out numerous patrols, but found the enemy still holding his trenches as Very lights(pyrotechnic flares) were sent up from support line.

3 a.m. News received that our Corps on the right had occupied MONCHY and had patrols out as far ADINFER WOOD. Early withdrawal of enemy from trenches opposite expected. 

Acting on this information patrols were again sent out by this battalion. These returned with information that portions of enemy front line where occupied. 

10 a.m. Fighting patrols crossed the Racecourse and entered enemy trenches, leading companies following in rear and reserve companies occupying our old front line, 

10.40 a.m. Enemy support line reached and found unoccupied, but enemy reported to be holding MALABY TRENCH and MADRAGNE TRENCH. Orders were once issued for patrols to be advanced, with view to establishing position in these trenches.

11.5 a.m. Right “A” Company being now well advanced, fighting patrols were ordered to be sent in direction of MERCATEL, the object being to discover whether or not this village was occupied by the enemy. Similar instructions were also issued to Left “B” Company.

3.10 p.m. Left “B” Company reported MALABY TRENCH reached and headquarters established, while Right “A” Company report that their position was a line between M.27.b.9/6 and M.22.b.8/1. Owing to several traps, bombs and aerial torpedoes etc. under trench boards having been discovered, Companies were warned against occupying enemy’s trenches and advised to dig in on a line approved by them separately. 

In accordance with 89th infantry Brigade operation order dated 20th March 1917 the Battalion was relieved by 18th Battalion Manchester Regiment. 

During the period 18th to the 21st inst. inclusive, the casualties suffered by the Battalion were as follows:-

2nd Lieut R. E. Green and 5 O.R. taken prisoners.

Killed 7 O.R. Wounded 18 O.R. 

Missing believed Prisoner of War 1 O.R. 

Robert now rests at Agny Military Cemetery.

Agny Military Cemetery was begun by French troops, and used by Commonwealth units and field ambulances from March 1916 to June 1917. Two further burials were made in April 1918, and in 1923-24, 137 graves were brought in from the battlefields east of Arras. The 40 French graves have been removed. Agny Military Cemetery contains 408 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 118 of them unidentified, and five German graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 07 April 1917:

FALLEN HEROES

Lance-Corp. R. H. Adams, who was killed in action March 18th, joined the K.R.L.(sic) in 1914, and had been in France 16 months. Formerly he was a steward and butcher in the employ of Messrs. Elder, Dempster, and Co., and was also for a short time with the Corporation Tramways, while he was a member of the Liverpool Civil Service League. His widow resides at 75, Windsor-st., Prince’s Park. Liverpool. 

His family paid tribute to Robert in the Liverpool Echo dated 18th March 1918:

In Memoriam

ADAMS - In ever-loving memory of my dearly beloved sons, Lance corporal ROBERT H., K.L.R., killed in action March 18, 1917, also THOMAS, the eldest son who passed away, March 24, 1917, (late of Hoylake). -- Sadly missed by their sorrowing Mother, Dad, and only sister Mag, and Stuart (In France) 34 Upper Parliament street.  

Also his wife paid tribute to him in the Liverpool Evening Express on Monday 18 March 1918:

ROLL OF HONOUR 

ADAMS— In loving memory of my dear husband, Lance-Corpl. Robert Henry Adams, K.L.R., killed in action March 18, 1917. (Though death divides, fond memories cling)— loving wife Flo.

Robert earned his three medals.

His effects, Army pay of £6 11s 11d, War Gratuity £10 10s, and Pension of 13/9 p.w. were sent to his wife Florence at 75 Windsor Street, Toxteth, Liverpool.

On the 1919 Relative Statement, his widow, Florence, gave his mother as Mary Adams, of 42 Upper Parliament Street. 

Mary was at this address on Electoral Rolls as Mary Shawe with husband Frederick Ernest. She died, aged 77, in 1947.

Florence remarried to Joseph Sydney Weight in May 1921 at St Margaret's Church, Toxteth Park. Joseph was a bachelor, 29 years old, a cashier, of 43 Selborne Street, father Alex Enoch a manager, whilst Florence was aged 28 of 29 Oxford Street, father Robert Connor deceased. They had two children Patricia Eileen (b.1925), Keith Sidney (b.1931). 

On the 1939 Register at 31 Ashbourne Road, Aigburth, Florence, date of birth 01st January 1893, is once again widowed and living with daughter Patricia (2 other minors are redacted). She died, aged 83, in 1976. 

We currently have no further information on Robert Henry Adams, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.