William Francis John Adams was born in 1897, the youngest of the four children of William Adams (1860-1914) and Ada Jane Adams née Hamilton (1860-1931). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1897 in the Kingston Registration District, Surrey (now the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, Greater London).
He was shown as aged 3 years on the census that was undertaken on 31 March 1901. He was living at 2 Ashdown Road, Kingston, with his parents and his three sisters: Ada Emily Constance Adams (1885-1977); Mabel Elizabeth Adams (b.1887) and Olive Abra Adams (1893-1975). His father was listed as an electrical engineer.
He was described as aged 14 years and a student on the census return form that was completed by his father on 2 April 1911. He was living in a six roomed property at 2 Ashdown Road, Kingston, with his parents, his sister Olive Abra Adams and a male boarder. His father showed himself as an electrical contractor and confirmed that his wife had given birth to four children and that all were still alive.
On 7 April 1913, aged 16 years, he was employed by the London & South Western Railway as junior clerk at Kingston at the rate of £26 per annum. On 29 May 1913 he was transferred to the Superintendent of Lines Office and was paid £30 per annum. His pay progression meant that his annual salary would increase to £35 on 29 May 1914; to £40 on 6 April 1915; to £50 on 6 April 1916; to £60 on 6 April 1917 and to £70 on 6 April 1918.
However, he was employed on military service on 25 January 1917. His service number in the Royal Engineers, Railways Battalion, was WR/263605. He was also allocated another service number, 229528.
Rising to the rank of Second Corporal, he died, aged 21 years, from pneumonia following influenza at the 51st Stationary Hospital, Arquata Scrivia, Italy and his ,in the Arquata Scrivia Communal Cemetery Extension, Via Serravalle, 15061 Arquata Scrivia (AL), Italy. The rank of "Second Corporal" was a specific grade used historically by the Royal Engineers and the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, ranking above a Lance Corporal and below a full Corporal.
On 7 May 1919 his £8-2s-1d army effects plus his £18-0s-0d war gratuity, totalling £26-2s-1d, was sent to his widowed mother. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as "W·F·J·ADAMS" on the Kingston war memorial in Memorial Garden, Church Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1RJ and as "ADAMS W." on the Waterloo WW1 memorial at Waterloo Station, London, SE1. He is also commemorated of the , on the , on the , on the and on the .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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