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 21st October 1886 and was was baptised on 9th November 1886 in Christ Church, 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, Kirkdale. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 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 March 1899 aged 33.

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.

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 is described as being 5 feet six and a quarter inches tall, weighed 125lbs and gave his religion as Church of England.

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. 

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 4th February 1917.

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

He 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. 

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 March18, 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.  

His effects were sent to his wife Florence at 75 Windsor Street, Toxteth, Liverpool.

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.