Leonard Adamson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Leonard Adamson was born in 1894 the son of the Reverend Thomas Adamson, a Baptist minister, and Elizabeth Jane Adamson (née Stanfield). Thomas was born on 18 April 1867 in Amman Dumfries, Scotland. Elizabeth Jane Stanfield on 27 February 1867 at Carlisle, Cumbria. Married in 1889 at Cockermouth, they had five children, four surviving infancy: Thomas Stanfield b. abt 1891 Port Elizabeth South Africa (d. 27 September 1957), George Hay b. 1892 Port Elizabeth South Africa (d. 1919), Leonard b. 1893 Kegworth Leicestershire and Stanley b. 31 July 1894 Maryport Cumbria (d. 1962). In 1911, the family lived at 29 Hall Croft, Beeston. Thomas was a newspaper reporter, George a telephone fitter and Stanley a student. At the time of Leonard's death in 1918 his parents were living on Brierley Street, Meadows, Nottingham. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living on Toston Drive, Wollaton; Thomas had retired as a minister. Elizabeth Jane died on 9 May 1948; the probate record gave her address as Toston Drive. Thomas died in 1951. Leonard married Roslina Perriam (b. 28 March 1894), the daughter of Charles and Caroline Perriam, in 1916. They lived at of 11 Mansfield Grove, Nottingham. Roslina married secondly John T Hollis, a widower. His first wife, Ruth (Orris), whom he married in 1913, died in 1920 leaving two children Margaret L. b. 1913 and Geoffrey b. 1920 (d. 1944). John and Roslina had three children: Brian b. 1930, Ivan b. 1932 and Jean b. 1937. In 1939 Roslina and John, a master butcher, were living on Hendon Rise, Nottingham. John died in 1953 and Roslina in 1985.
Leonard Adamson, served with “A” Battery, 147th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Leonard was killed by a shell on 7 June 1918 while he was at the guns. He is buried in Houchin British Cemetery, France (grave ref. II F 28). CWGC - History of Houchin British Cemetery (extract): 'The cemetery was opened in March 1918 when the 6th Casualty Clearing Station came to Houchin. From April to September the German advance made Houchin unsafe for hospitals, and the cemetery was used by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division. In September 1918, the 6th Casualty Clearing Station returned to Houchin and was joined by the 15th CCS in October.' (www.cwgc.org)
Nottingham Journal and Express 14th June 1918: 'AT THE GUN BREECH. NOTTINGHAM MINISTER'S SON KILLED IN ACTION. 'Much sympathy will be extended to the Rev. T. and Mrs. Adamson, Brierley-street, Nottingham, who have just received official information that their third son, Lance-Bombardier Leonard Adamson, A Battery, was killed in action in France on 7 June. 'Bombardier Adamson, who was only 25 years age, joined the forces over two years ago, and was in France nearly the whole of that time. Twice he was hospital through injuries received in big offensives, and he had only been with A Battery a week or two when a stray shell killed him at the gun. 'He was one of the most popular men in his old battery, and he had won the sincere regard of his superior officers, who entrusted him with the responsibility of the pay department. 'Prior the war Bombardier L. Adamson was with the London and Midland Bank, first at Mansfield, and then at Grantham, and was for a time attached lo the Bank of Montreal, Threadneedle-street, London.' Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 14 June 1918: ‘Adamson. Killed in action June 7th, 1918. L’Bomdr, Leonard Adamson, third son of Rev T and Mrs Adamson, Baptist minister, Nottingham, and loving husband of Rosie Adamson (née Perriam), Mansfield Grove.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Roslina was his sole legatee. WW1 Pension Ledgers: dependent widow Roslina.
