2nd Lt
Joseph Francis Adams
Information about birth
Year of birth: 1888 |
Place of birth: Trelawnyd (Newmarket), Flintshire, Wales, United Kingdom |
General information
Profession: Seaman |
Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
Country: Australia |
Force: Australian Imperial Force |
Rank: Second Lieutenant |
Service number: 357 |
Enlistment date: 20/11/1915 |
Enlistment place: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
Units: — Australian Infantry, 35th Bn. (Newcastle's Own Regiment) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
Place of death: Judge Copse, Belgium |
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
Age: 29 |
Cemetery
Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: LXVI Row: G Grave: 19 |
Points of interest 3
#1 | Place of birth | ||
#2 | Enlistment place | ||
#3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Joseph Francis Adams was the son of James and Susanah Adams. He was born around 1888 in Trelawnyd (Newmarket), Flintshire. He worked as a sailor. Before the First World War, he moved to Australia. He enlisted in the Australian Army. During the war, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. He was a part of the 35th Battalion Australian Infantry Regiment (9th Brigade, 3rd Division).
Joseph died on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the attack on Passchendaele were near Keerselaarhoek. At 5.25 a.m., the starting signal for the attack was given. The 35th Battalion advanced in support of the 34th Battalion. They managed to capture Hillside Farm and Augustus Wood, thus reaching their first objectives. After a temporary delay due to machine gun fire, they managed to advance further. The consolidation lasted until around 3 p.m. The battalion was then forced to retreat to the vicinity of Augustus Wood. The attack ended about 300 yards beyond the original starting lines.
Joseph was killed during the attack at the age of 29. He was seriously wounded by shrapnel. He was carried to the trenches by stretcher bearers, but a grenade killed them all. Joseph's body was found near Judge Copse after the war. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Joseph died on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the attack on Passchendaele were near Keerselaarhoek. At 5.25 a.m., the starting signal for the attack was given. The 35th Battalion advanced in support of the 34th Battalion. They managed to capture Hillside Farm and Augustus Wood, thus reaching their first objectives. After a temporary delay due to machine gun fire, they managed to advance further. The consolidation lasted until around 3 p.m. The battalion was then forced to retreat to the vicinity of Augustus Wood. The attack ended about 300 yards beyond the original starting lines.
Joseph was killed during the attack at the age of 29. He was seriously wounded by shrapnel. He was carried to the trenches by stretcher bearers, but a grenade killed them all. Joseph's body was found near Judge Copse after the war. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 5
35th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/52/4). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455 ADAMS J F). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCIDG1037196). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 129. Sources used |
Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8 23/52/1). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=4efc267e-a4a1-472f-9819-07afdb531666 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461710 |
The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=924 |
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7338385 |