Name
Ernest William Adams
28th May 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/09/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266562
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 153.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield War Memorial, In Memoriam & Roll of Honour Book, Hatfield, St Luke's Church Memorial, Bishops Hatfield, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Ware, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Ernest war born in Ware, Hertfordshire on 28th May 1891, son of Charles Adams (a Malt Maker) and Maria Adams (nee Ellis). Baptised on 5th July 1891, at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, in Ware. His Father, Charles, was also born in Ware but his Mother Maria was born in Hatfield.
1901 Census records Ernest aged 9, living with his parents, 5 brothers and 2 sisters, at 4 Bourne Hill, Ware, Herts. He attended Ware Infants School and St Mary's C of E School, Ware. Leaving in May 1905, aged 14.
By 1911 Ernest was working as a Boot Repairer in Hatfield and lodging with Mr & Mrs Burgess in Park Street, Hatfield. His family living at 3 Collett Rd. Ware.
Ernest married Florence Wilson in Hatfield on Sept. 17th 1914.
Officially Ernest was recorded as a resident of Hatfield when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
He volunteered in April 1915 and in the following year, proceeded to the Western Front. He served with the Bedfordshire Regiment with the Service No. 4861 and the Hertfordshire Regiment with the Service No. 266562.
He took part in numerous engagements in Ypres Salient and was K.I.A there on Sept. 23rd 1917.
Ernest died of wounds received from a small explosion, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.
After his death the Bishops Hatfield Parish Magazine, Nov 1917 recorded: “........most poignant loss is that of Ernest Adams, 1st Herts., Regt. Of Newtown, the news of whose death was received by his wife while she was away in the Isolation Hosp., and was thus deprived of the comfort of her child and relations”.
The Herts. Advertiser, 27.10.1917 recorded: Pte Ernest W Adams, aged 24????, Herts. Regt., husband of Mrs Florence Adams, New Town Hatfield and son of Mrs Adams of 3 xxxxxx Rd, Ware, was killed in action on September 23rd. He joined the army in April 1916 and was formerly a boot-maker employed by Mr Burgess, Hatfield, and Mr Martin, George Street, St. Albans. He was wounded in the spine in January but returned to France in July. The widow is left with one little daughter. Deceased’s brother, Charles, of the Somerset Light Infantry, (late Herts. Regt) was killed on Sept 16th 1916, another brother has been missing since April 14th and two other brothers are serving.
A comrade in the course of a letter writes ‘My company have asked me to write to you and express how very sorry they are to lose him as he was a good comrade and a good soldier, always cheerful and bright and willing to do whatever he was asked to, but, thank God, he died a true Englishman, giving his life for his king and country.’
Awarded Victory Medal and British Medal.
Additional Information
His effects of £4-7s-3d, Pay Owing and £11, War Gratuity went to his Widow Flora.
The three brothers who died are also commemorated on their parents’ grave in Ware New Cemetery. Their inscription reads:
AND OF
ALFRED THOMAS,
CHARLES EDWARD,
ERNEST WILLIAM.
SONS OF THE ABOVE [Charles & Marie Adams)
KILLED IN THE GREAT WAR.
1914 - 1918
His brothers Charles Adams and Alfred Adams were both Killed in Action, Charles on 16th September 1916, and Alfred on 14th April 1917. Both have no known grave. Charles is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and Alfred on the Arras Memorial.
Florence (Flora) remarried in 1924 to a Walter E. Hart in Hatfield. The address given for Flora on the CWGC entry appears to be incorrect as there is no 43rd Rightaway. It could be number 4, The Third Right of Way.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir, Committee Ledger: Mrs Ernest Adams, (Widow) of Newtown, Hatfield received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, Stuart Osborne, Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
