Henry Eustace Adams

This name is on St Mark's War Memorial, Kennington Oval, London SE11

H. E. Adams

(Henry Eustace Adams)

(Adams, Henry Eustace)

Service no. S/2950

Died of wounds on 25 October 1916, aged 38

CWGC: "Son of the late Robert and Ann Adams. Educated at City of London School, and London University. Also served in the Royal Engineers. Born in London."

Remembered at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France

Lived in Brixton, enlisted at St. Paul's Churchyard

From De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, 1914-1924ADAMS, HENRY EUSTACE, Rifleman, No. 2950, 13th (Service) Battn. The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own), and R. E., yst s. of the late Robert Adams, of Victor Lodge, Brixton Road, London S. W., Engineers, by his wife, Ann, dau. of the late Richard Lee, of Cobham; b. London, 19 Oct. 1878; educ. West Cliff Schoo, Ramsgate, and City of London School, matriculating at the University of London in 1900; subsequently entered the architectural profession, serving his articles with the late Mr. H. H. Collins, F.R.I.B.A.; passed the Intermediate Examination of the R.I.B.A. in June 1904; but was afterwards invited to join his father's business, and on the death of his father became a partner in the firm. On the outbreak of war he endeavoured to enrol in the R.E. or R.A., but, on being informed that their ranks were at that time filled, he joined the Rifle Brigade 9 Sept. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 29 July, 1915; took part in operations along the British front from Armentieres to Albert; was selected for special duties with the R.E. in the winter of 1915-16, and attached to the 147th Army Troop Coy., when he was entrusted with the survey of important works connected with the 7th Corps line, which included those in front of the villages of Souastre and St. Armand, and prepared the plans which were submitted to Headquarters, and for these services he was highly commended; took part in the Battle of the Somme, and died in No. 14 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, 25 Oct. 1916, from complications supervening on long exposure on the field, after being wounded in action between Contalmaison and Pozieres on 10 July. Buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery [Grave No. 1170]. A comrade wrote:" We have just learnt of the death of your brother and our late comrade, and I am writing on behalf of the few remaining members of his platoon to let you know how deeply moved we were to hear the news, and also to express our sympathy with you in your great loss ... It can honestly be said that he sacrificed his own life with a thought of saving others ... We had been carrying bombs, etc., up to the front line, a small party of about eight, and we succeeded in getting through a terrible barrage to our destination safely. We were told to take shelter in the front line for a time. It was then he got hit by a piece of shrapnel. As things did not get better, we were told to make our way back, and, of course, take Mr. Adams with us; but he absolutely refused to let us do so, saying he did not want to jeapardize our young lives in attempting to save his. We were all so sorry to leave him, for he was highly respected by us all, and he was always looked upon as our adviser owing to his superior knowledge on almost everything possible to think of. We all appreciated him very much ... in coming up to fight for the great cause; also he was always most anxious to do anything in his power for our comfort..." He was formally transferred to the R.E. by instructions from Headquarters in France, but was still serving with his battalion when he was wounded; unm.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 Henry Eustace Adams, a 33-year-old engineer's assistant born in Lambeth was living with his father, stepmother, siblings and a servant at Victor Lodge, 162 Brixton Road, where the family had 13 rooms.

Robert Adams, 70, a mechanical engineer born in Farnham, Hampshire

Louisa Mary Adams, 60, was born in Brixton.

Sidney James Adams, 39, was an engineer's assistant.

Emily Martha Adams, 37

Annie Dickenson, 33, a domestic servant from Yorkshire