Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"...Robert John Adams emigrated from the Ditton, Lancashire with his wife Leah to Tasmania prior to WW1. They appear to have separated in Hobart around the start of the war, with three children (Robert, Leah and Trixie), being left in the care of a Mrs Fitzpatrick. Robert was a Boer War veteran and former British Army RAMC regular serving 4 years with the colours and 8 in the reserve. Robert somehow made it to Townsville and enlisted there in March 1915, initially serving with the 4th Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance, being transferred to the 15th Field Ambulance in March 1916 in Egypt. He then served in France/Flanders being commissioned to LT from LCPL at the end of the war. His service papers and an allotment file explain the situation with his children and wife. When he got home to Tasmania after the war Robert and Leah divorced (Hobart Mercury article July 1924). He subsequently married a lady named Revie and they had children named Jan, Roberta, Robin, Jill and Simon. He served on as a CPL in WW2, reducing his age by 8 years. Robert appears to have copped a few mentions in the paper over the years, including one in which Revie was injured in a traffic accident.

Robert died on 21 November 1953 and this time was living at Windsor St, Kingston Beach, Hobart. In the notice of death in the Hobart Mercury his family members were listed, including his daughter Leah who was by then married with the surname Uhr-Henry..." - READ MORE LINK (lostmedalsaustralia.blogspot.com.au) 

Robert John Adams was born on January 14th, 1880, in the town of Ditton, Lancashire, England.

He married in January 1906 to Leah Adams which took place in London. After their marriage, they lived unhappily for a few years before he emigrated to the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, leaving his wife and 4 children in England. Adams eventually sent for his wife and the four children to come to Hobart in 1914.

Adams enlisted in Townsville, Queensland on the 29th of March 1915, at the age of 35 and 2 months. He was a clerk by occupation, and as stated in his description upon enlistment had a fair complexion with hazel eyes and light brown hair. Adams was a Boer War Veteran and former British Army RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) serving 4 years with the colours and 8 in the reserve, discharged for completion of service. Existing records of his parents are unknown, but his residential address found on his attestation papers read Taroona, Browns River Road in Hobart, Tasmania

Robert John Adams was transferred to the 15th Australian Field Ambulance in Alexandria, Egypt, the 16th of March 1916. On the 19th of June 1916, he embarked overseas to northern France as part of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) to support the left wing of the French armies. On the 28th of June 1916, he disembarked in Marseilles, France which at the time, was a major transit point for troops moving between the Western front and those further east.

Adams was appointed Lance Corporal on the 28th of March 1917 and detached to 1st Anzac School on the 25th of August 1917 and rejoined his unit on 1st of October 1917. He went to the UK on furlough on the 27th of February 1918. Adams rejoined after leave on the 16th of March 1918 and was selected to attend the Infantry Cadet course in England on the 7th of June 1918. He proceeded to tour the infantry cadet in France on the 19th of May 1918.

On the 7th of June 1918, he, as a Lance Corporal joined No. 4 Officers Cadet Battalion Oxford and qualified for commission in the Infantry Cadet in England. Having qualified in the AI1 (1st Australian Infantry Battalion) with seniority as from the 1st of January 1919, but for purposes of pay plus allowances as from the 30th of January 1919, was posted to the infantry.

On the 26th of February 1919, Adams proceeded overseas to France via South Hampton and was still attached to the Lance Corporal rank on the 11th of May 1919. On the 1st of April 1919, he was commissioned from Lance Corporal to Lieutenant, taking on a higher rank in the Battalion.

On the 26th of May 1919, he was instructed to report for duty in Havre which was a French port on the English Channel used by the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) throughout the war and disembarked at Southampton on the 4th of June 1919.

From the 14th of July 1919 to the 14th of September 1919, Adams was granted leave with pay with the reason of attending R. Robert’s, Bold Street Liverpool. On the 14th of September 1919, his period of leave expired and lastly, returned to Australia on the 1st of November 1919.

In early September 1924, Leah Adams petitioned for a divorce to Robert John Adams, a returned soldier on the grounds of desertion and misconduct. Robert John Adams denied the allegations pointed towards him and countercharged his wife with desertion saying if he were to be proven guilty of misconduct, that it was her fault. Leah Adams states that the couple lived together unhappily for a few years before he left her destitute and having to give birth to a child in an English workhouse without her husband. After Robert moved to Australia, he sent Leah and their 4 children over in 1914, having her and the children conveyed in rooms on Collins Street whiles providing them with a scarce amount of food and money. He then seemingly deserted her, offering to take the children and when his wife refused, he assaulted her, forcing her to work for herself in order to live. Throughout this time, Robert wished to take full liability of the children. Leah later found that Robert was living with another woman who identified herself as his wife, living together on Liverpool Street. One of the four children died when the youngest was just 12 months old. Robert also accused Leah for a habit of taking intoxicating liquors which she denied. The three children were left in the care of Mrs. Fitzpatrick who was a client of Robert’s. The case was set down for hearing on the 9th of September however, due to insufficient evidence, the result of the case is unknown (refer to attached newspaper articles - Trove).

Robert John Adams served in WWII as a Corporal.

Robert John Adams died from natural causes on the 21st of November 1953, living at Windsor Street, Kingston Beach, Hobart. The father of Robert Adams who lived in Melbourne, Leah (Mrs H-B Urh-Henry) and Trixie Adams (Sister Mary Inigo) who lived in Sydney. Sr Inigo passed away peacefully on Friday 16th of May 2014, at the age of 101.

Robert John Adams died in 1953 and was cremated at Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania, Australia.