ANZAC Search

Reginald John Adams - Information

Reginald John was born in Luddenham c1889 to John and Sarah Adams. The family remained in Luddenham, where Reginald grew up surrounded by his siblings. He eventually found work as a labourer while serving in the Luddenham Lancers for three years. The advent of the First World War was to have a significant impact on the Adams family. In August 1915, his cousins, Edwin and John Adams, enlisted in the AIF. When Reginald was 26, he decided to join the colours. He signed up on the 22nd of May 1916 at the Royal Showground Camp in Sydney. He commenced his training, and was posted as a Private to A Company, 2nd Battalion at Cootamundra in June. In August, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion at Liverpool Camp. Reginald then departed Sydney on the HMAT Ceramic on the 7th of October 1916.

The Ceramic sailed into Plymouth Harbour, England in November. Reginald was marched out to Larkhill for training, before being transported to France in early February 1917. Shortly after arriving, Reginald was accidentally wounded by a bomb explosion on the 19th of February. He was immediately rushed to the 8th Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, with a scalp laceration and injured right arm. He was then evacuated to England. The same day as the incident, an infield court of inquiry was held. They discovered that Reginald’s injuries were the result of a premature bomb explosion and he was not at fault. At the Norfolk War Hospital, doctors uncovered that the explosion had severely fractured Reginald’s arm. A medical review board agreed that he was now unfit for future active service. In August, he was invalided to Australia and medically discharged in November 1917.