Adams, Joseph Henry

157511 Company Sergeant-Major Joseph Henry Adams was born 12 February, 1884, in London, England to Joseph Richard Adams and Georgianna Warner. He served 13 years in the Royal Marine Light Infantry and served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WWI.

Adams enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1900 serving in Somaliland 1901, the Messina earthquake of 1908, and the Persian Gulf 1910 before releasing in 1913. After moving to Canada he enlisted for active service with the 81^st Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915 and was transferred to 4^th Canadian Mounted Rifles before proceeding to France in early 1916. In late 1916 he was buried by shell fire sustaining a fractured wrist. Due to his injuries he returned to England where he carried-out administrative duties until being discharged in early 1918.

In 1927 he joined the Queen’s Own and in 1935 he was selected to participate in a visit to the regiment’s sister regiment, The Buffs.

He married Florence Emily Naptin in 1911, they had five children, in his civilian life he was a night-watchman, a policeman and a postman.

Record of Military Service:

1900, 30 November, enlisted Royal Marine Light Infantry: Chatham Division;
1913, released from Royal Marines;
1915, 27 September, joined QOR and attested for overseas service with 81^st Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force;
1916, May, arrived England;
1916, June, arrived France;
1916, 24 June, transferred to 4^th Canadian Mounted Rifles;
1917, 18 Jan, admitted to hospital and returned to England due to fractured wrist as a result of being buried by shell fire in France;
1918, 26 Apr, discharged from active service;
1927, 12 Sep, taken-on strength QOR;
1940, 22 Jan, stuck-off strength of QOR