ADAMS C. E.

            C. E. Adams   D.C.M

Lieutenant

1st Bn., Royal Fusiliers

Lieutenant C. E. Adams died on 21st March 1921, aged 30 years, and was buried in SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD CEMETERY, Nottinghamshire.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 25th November 1916

9229 Sgt., C. E. Adams, Devon Regiment. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He assumed command of and led his company with great courage and initiative. Later, although wounded, he remained at his post for 24 hours.’

C. E. Adams was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in November 1916, for saving lives while under fire. The reverse of the medal states ~ "For distinguished conduct in the field"

Lt. Adams served with the Devon Regiment in France and Belgium from 21st August 1914 to August 1918, was wounded four times and awarded the D.C.M. and 1914 Star. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Fusiliers, for service in the field on 5th July 1918.

He proceeded to Ireland with the 1st Battalion on 31st July 1920. On 21st March 1921, Adams and 27 men of “B” Company were coming in to Killarney from Kenmare. They left Kenmare by train at 1.50 and arrived at Headford Junction, where they had to change trains, at 3 o’clock. As the first men were getting out of the train, fire was opened on them by concealed men from banks on both sides of the line and from the station buildings. The rebels had a machine gun in the stationmaster’s house. Adams and the three senior N.C.O.’s were knocked out at once. Eight of the party were killed and eleven wounded. But the few survivors got what cover they could and put up such a stout fight that for 50 minutes the Sinns, who outnumbered them by certainly 10 to 1, and probably much more, did not dare to make a move. The rebels eventually fled upon the arrival of another train with a small number of troops who immediately deployed across the line and advanced against them.

In loving memory of my dearly beloved husband Lieut. C. E. Adams, DCM (1st Royal Fusiliers) Killed in a train ambush at Headford Station, Killarney, March 21st 1921 aged 30 years. Died nobly, doing his duty

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Research by Simon Pile and Heather Faulkes