Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Alexander ADAMS and Alice nee KELLY

Arthur Russell Adams was born on September 20th, 1895, in Smithfield, SA. His father was Alexander Adams, and his mother was Alice Kelly. He continued to live in Smithfield Playford during his early life. Arthur was a Presbyterian and a member of the St. James’ Church of England. Arthur was single and worked as a Farm Labourer before enlisting in the AIF.

Arthur enlisted at Oaklands South Australia on November 26th, 1914 at the age of 20. He was 5 feet and 9 inches tall, weighed 147 pounds, had blue eyes with a fair complexion and fair hair, also having many distinctive marks on his right arm. Arthur was posted to the 11th Light Horse Regiment on the 16th of February 1915. Arthur was appointed to be a Sergeant on the 16th-20th of March 1915. Arthur joined up with 11th Light Horse in Queensland, where they sailed from Queensland to Brisbane on April 27th, 1915. Arthur then embarked from Brisbane aboard the HMAT A7 Medic on June 2nd, 1915, and sailed for about 2 months before landing in Anzac on August 28th, 1915.

Arthur became ill and was sent to hospital on November 17th, 1915, but returned to the 9th Light Horse on the 24th of November 1915. Arthur would evacuate from Gallipoli likely between the 15th and 20th of December 1915, which is a time where many units were pulled out of the losing battle in Gallipoli.

Arthur travelled by the HT Kanowna on the 20th of December 1915 towards Alexandria. He would join an officers school of instruction in Heliopolis on January 8th, 1916, and would be relieved from that school on the 29th of January 1916. Arthur rejoined the 11th Light Horse Regiment on the 3rd of March 1916 in Egypt, Arthur spent the next few months with the 11th Light Horse where the unit would travel through Habeith, Heliopolis, Tel-El-Kabir & Serapeum.

Arthur was promoted from sergeant to squadron sergeant major while with the 11th Light Horse on the 12th of July 1916. He served with the 11th Light Horse for around the following 16 months, as the unit travelled around Egypt and carried out operations in the late Sinai campaign, the second battle of Gaza, all operations in Beersheba & all patrols out from FARA from April-October. On the 24th of November 1917, Arthur was promoted to Temporary Regimental Sergeant Major and posted to the 4th Training Regiment.

Throughout the remainder of the war, Arthur would be in and out of hospital many times. He transferred to a hospital in Moascar for the first time on the 27th of February 1918 after injuring his finger by slamming it in a carriage door; he would be investigated for self-harm, but no evidence would be found to support the idea of him harming himself. While in this hospital, he would revert to Squadron Sergeant Major but only for a few days until he was discharged on 4th March.

Arthur rejoined the 11th Light Horse Regiment on the 22nd of April 1918 and reverted into the role of Squadron Sergeant Major again. Arthur, on June 25th, 1918, joined Cadet School Zeitoun, and was commissioned on the 23rd of October 1918 and became the 2nd Lieutenant in the 11th Light Horse.

After the war ended Arthur became the Lieutenant of his unit on the 24th of January 1919. A record in his file by Percival John Bailey one of the commanding officers of the 11th Light Horse dated 31st of January 1919 stated, “Commissioned since operations ceased. Now showing tact and energy as a troop leader. Good individual fair disciplinarian. No languages. Physically fit. As an N.C.O he did very good work both in the field and when in administration [sic].” and “Should make a good Troop Leader [sic].” This indicates he was well respected as a leader and helps to explain why he was commissioned to a lieutenant.

Arthur returned back to Australia on July 20th, 1919, and was finally discharged from the army on the 23rd of November 1919.

During the rest of his life Arthur lived in South Australia, and married Gladys Adams, and had a daughter named Jennifer Adams. Arthur died fromnatural causes in the Salisbury Private Hospital in South Australia on the 7th of September 1938, and was buried in the Salisbury Methodist Cemetery. He is commemorated on the Smithfield Honour Roll.