On the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium, is the name of 601 Lieutenant Robert William Adamson, serving with  the 2nd Platoon, ‘A’ Company, 1/7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 25/05/1915.

Robert William Adamson was born the eldest child of six children at Cross House, Neville’s Cross, Crossgate, Durham on the 18th April 1875, to John Adamson, (born 1845, Little Grant in Wisconsin, USA, died on the 29th December 1931, Neville’s Cross, Cottages, Durham), a cashier at a Flour Mill and his wife Annie, nee Young, (born in Durham 1850, died in 1941). They married in Durham in 1872.

The other children were: –

• Charles (Charlie) Young Adamson, born 18th April 1875, died 17th September 1918.
• Frederick [Fred] Adamson, born 1877.
• Annie Adamson, born 1880.
• Ethel Adamson, born 13th December 1882, died 1960.
• Jane Francis [Jeanie], Adamson, born 1885.

In 1881, John and Annie were residing with her parents at Cross House, Neville’s Cross, and John was employing a Clerk and a boy.

Robert was educated at Durham School as a Day Boy in May 1886, He played in the school XV in 1890 and after leaving the School in December 1890, he played for Durham County.

Robert married at St James’s Church, Newchapel, Staffordshire, on the 26th October 1898, Florry Moss, (born 1st April 1878), and was residing at Turnhurst in Staffordshire.  In 1901, they were still residing at Turnhurst in Staffordshire with his mother-in-law Eliza Moss, born 1840. They had three children:

• John Adamson, born 5th January 1901. Sailed to Australia on the 18th January 1919, residence address Soldiers Settlement, Kentucky, New South Wales, Australia.
• Maisie Adamson, born 6th June 1904 and
• Helen Adamson, born 2nd August 1908.

Robert volunteered for the Boer War and served for three years in the 1st Volunteer Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. He was a Bank Accountant and was employed by the National Provincial Bank.

Robert and the family moved to the North East around 1905. In 1909 Robert William enlisted at Livingstone Road, Drill Hall, Sunderland into the 7th Battalion (Territorials), Durham Light Infantry on the 22nd February 1909 for 4 years. Robert was given the rank of private and the service number of 601. He was promoted to a Serjeant on the 6th August 1909.  He was then residing at 6 Sea View, Ryhope, Sunderland.  Now a  Bank Clerk employed by the National Provincial Bank,

Robert attended the annual camp from the 31st July to the 14th August 1909, at Blackhall Rocks, then the 24th July to the 7th August 1910 at Rothbury and the 29th July to the 13th August 1911 at Strensall, York.

By 1911, he was residing at 161 Sea Road, Fulwell, Sunderland. Robert was working at the National Provincial Bank in the Sunderland Branch as a Bank clerk.

Robert after his 4 years’ time served, re-enlisted on the 12th February 1913 and 18th February 1914. He was embodied for service on the 5th August 1914. After 5 years and 228 days in service he was discharged having obtained a commission, on the 13th August 1914.  Robert was using a correspondence address at Combeford Road, Tamworth when he made his application for a commission. He had at one point resided at the Lecture Hall, East Boldon, Co Durham.

Robert William Adamson was gazetted a Second Lieutenant on the 7th October 1914.  He was 5 feet 6 and three-quarter inches tall. Robert left Gateshead on the 19th April with his Battalion, and went to Central Station, Newcastle upon Tyne to be transported to Folkestone via Kings Cross and Victoria. Then embarked at Boulogne with his battalion.

On the 25th May 1915, Lieutenant Adamson had ordered his men to retire during the attack on the 25th May 1915, he remained where he was giving covering fire until he was killed.  This was at the end of the 2nd Battle of Ypres. The Battalion was located at Potijze.

His widow was residing at Ridgcote House, Tamworth Staffordshire.  Robert William was posted initially as missing.

His widow was residing at ‘Alrewas’ at Burton-on-Trent.  She wrote a letter on the 24th May 1919, to the War Office questioning a report she had heard about that the ‘Germans posses a list of a great number of men, who were prisoners in Germany and whose names as such were never supplied by Germany.’ The War Office replied stating that this statement was in the Press on the 23rd May, and is completely untrue.  No lists such as you mention in your letter have been received.

The identity disc was returned to her. Also a letter explaining that only one memorial scroll and Death plaque will be issued.

She received a Pension of £100 a year and £24 for each child a year.

Acknowledgments: The British Newspaper Archive; Durham School; The National Archives;

Robert William Adamson is remembered at Durham on D47.020, D47.036, in D47.057 page 12 and in D47.091, on the 7th D.L.I. Roll of Honour and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 130.