Charles Henry ADAMS MM

ADAMS, Charles Henry

Service Numbers: 1703, 3722
Enlisted: 12 January 1915, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 53rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Albert Park, Melbourne, Vic., 1891
Home Town: Thursday Island, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Painter
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

12 Jan 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1703, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW
1 Mar 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 3rd Infantry Battalion
17 Mar 1915: Embarked Private, 1703, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Sydney
17 Mar 1915: Involvement Private, 1703, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: ''
28 Feb 1917: Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3722, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Sydney, NSW. Rank provisional
2 Aug 1917: Involvement Sergeant, 3722, 53rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: ''
2 Aug 1917: Embarked Sergeant, 3722, 53rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Sydney
2 Aug 1917: Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3722, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Embarked at Sydney, NSW
24 Apr 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3722, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Gassed
5 Oct 1918: Honoured Military Medal, During the operations near Bellicourt between 30th September and 2nd October 1918 this N.C.O. displayed great personal bravery and powers of leadership. Early in the attack his Platoon commander was killed and he at once assumed command and continued the advance handling his platoon in a most skillful manner. He several times organised and personally led bombing parties against enemy Strong Posts. On one occasion, noticing a German counter attack coming from a flank, Sergeant Adams collected his platoon and charged out into the open causing the enemy to turn and run after suffering several casualties. Throughout the whole operation he rendered the greatest assistance to his Company Commander and set the finest possible example to the men of his platoon. London Gazette on 14 May 1919, page 6055 position 2 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 15 September 1919, page 1364, position 74

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Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of Charles Henry Adams and Lillie Adams nee Durrant of 14 Anderson Street, Albert Park, Victoria

Husband of Gertrude Adams nee Asang of John Street, Thursday Island, QLD. Charles and Gertrude married in QLD on 3 December 1913

Returned to Australia aboard Friederhuh disembarking at Sydney, NSW

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Born Albert Park, Melbourne, Vic.
Husband of Gertrude ADAMS
Of John Street, Thursday Island, Qld.
Then Of 'Dalkey' Edward Street, Woollahara, NSW
​Skin colour 'Dark' Eyes 'Light Grey' Hair 'Black'
Occupation prior to enlistment Painter / Soldier
Enlisted 02 January 1915
Embarked 17 March 1915 per 'Shropshire' from Sydney, NSW
Served in Cairo
Returned to Australia 24 June 1916 per 'Kyarra'
Discharged 21 December 1915
Enlisted 25 February 1917 at Sydney, NSW
Embarked 02 August 1917 per 'Alphades' from Sydney, NSW
Served in France


​Awarded Military Medal
'During the operations near BELLICOURT between 30th September and 2nd October 1918 this N.C.O. displayed great personal bravery and powers of leadership. Early in the attack his Platoon commander was killed and he at once assumed command and continued the advance handling his platoon in a most skillful manner. He several times organised and personally led bombing parties against enemy Strong Posts. On one occasion, noticing a German counter attack coming from a flank, Sergeant ADAMS collected his platoon and charged out into the open causing the enemy to turn and run after suffering several casualties. Throughout the whole operation he rendered the greatest assistance to his Company Commander and set the finest possible example to the men of his platoon.'


Returned to Australia 08 July 1919

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