ADAMS, Valantyne Harold
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Royal Flying Corps |
| Born: | Kew, Victoria, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Urana, Urana, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Melbourne Grammar School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Shot by German soldiers, Linselles, France, 4 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Linselles Communal Cemetery Plot British, Row A, Grave 5 |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Melbourne Grammar School WW1 Fallen Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 4 May 1917: | Wounded Second Lieutenant, Officer, Royal Flying Corps, He was considered by his C.O. one of his smartest officers and finest pilots, and on the 3rd May 1917 he was detailed off to do sortie dangerous work at the back of the enemy's lines and then there was no further news of him until evidence came to hand that he had lost his life. After the Arthistice definite evidence was obtained that in an air combat his observer had been killed and he had been forced to land at Linselles, then in German occupation, and that, although he had surrendered to them, he was shot by some German soldiers. He was buried in the General Civilian Cemetery at Linselles. |
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Help us honour Valantyne Harold Adams's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Valantyne Harold ADAMS was born in Kew, Victoria in 1892
His parents were Alexander James ADAMS & Adah Emilie PARKER
Biography contributed by Daryl Jones
VALANTYNE HAROLD ADAMS
Who was killed in action on 4th May 1917 was the son of the late Mr. Alexander J. Adams. He was born in 1892 and was at Melbourne Grammar School from 1906 to 1910. Upon leaving school he adopted a country life at Urana, New South Wales. He applied for a commission in the Australian Flying Corps, but was not then considered eligible. He therefore left for England in April 1916 and entered the Aviation School at Oxford in August, and was subsequently transferred to Gosport, Reading and Beaulieu. In November he crossed to France as 2nd Lieutenant and joined the 70th Squadron R.F.C. He was considered by his C.O. one of his smartest officers and finest pilots, and on the 3rd May 1917 he was detailed off to do sortie dangerous work at the back of the enemy's lines and then there was no further news of him until evidence came to hand that he had lost his life. After the Arthistice definite evidence was obtained that in an air combat his observer had been killed and he had been forced to land at Linselles, then in German occupation, and that, although he had surrendered to them, he was shot by some German soldiers. He was buried in the General Civilian Cemetery at Linselles.
Source : War Services Old Melburnians 1914 - 1918
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