ADAMS George Edward

George Edward ADAMS

Regimental number: 3425
Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Blacksmith
Address: Eumundi, North Coast Line, Queensland
Marital status: Married
Age at embarkation: 31
Next of kin: Wife, Mrs. M. Adams, Nambour, North Coast Line, Queensland
Enlistment date: 16 June 1917
Rank on enlistment: Private
Unit name: 2nd Light Horse Regiment, 29th Reinforcement

Description on Enlistment at Brisbane
Height: 5`8"
Weight: 134lbs
Married with 2 children
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Dark

AWM Embarkation Roll number: 10/7/5
Embarkation details: Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A55 Kyarra on 3 September 1917
Regimental number from Nominal Roll: 3425a
Rank from Nominal Roll: Private
Unit from Nominal Roll: 2nd Light Horse Regiment
Fate: Effective abroad (still overseas)
Disembarked 19.10.1917 at Suez, then to Moascar.
Service in Middle East.

Embarked at Suez, Egypt on HT "Dongola" for Australia on 24 July 1919. Arrived 28 Aug 1919. Discharged 29 Sept. 1919

George was a blacksmith and coach builder by trade and was employed by Cobb & Co. for some time. He married in Brisbane in 1909 to Martha Snook from Nambour. In 1912 they commenced business in Eumundi. He was one of five Eumundi men who enlisted in the 5th Light Horse Regiment. He was a Maroochy Shire Councillor for nine years and retired from business in 1960.
They had a son George and a daughter Alice.

A.I.F. Enlistment Form shows:
Joined 16 June 1917
Age: 30yrs 10 mths
Trade: Blacksmith
Apprenticed: 3½ yrs England
Married with 2 children
Next of Kin: Wife Mrs Martha Adams, Nambour, North Coast Line, Qld.
Permanent Address: Eumundi, North Coast Line, Qld.

Additional Information:
ADAMS, GEORGE EDWARD ‘Spokey’
3425, Farrier Corporal, 2/5 Light Horse Regiment, 29th Reinforcement.
b. 19.07.1886 Brisbane, Qld.
Enlisted: 16.06.1917 Brisbane, Qld.
Discharged: 29.09.1919.
d. 16.08.1961.
Next of Kin: Martha Adams –Wife.

George Adams was a blacksmith, wheelwright and coachbuilder living in Eumundi. His nickname ‘Spokey’ might have had something to do with the occupation of making spokes for carriage wheels. He was employed for a time by Cobb & Co., Charleville prior to 1913and his attestation papers said he had 3½ years apprenticeship as a blacksmith in England. George later purchased the Eumundi blacksmithing business in Cook Street owned by the late Thomas Tucker.
In 1909 George Adams married Martha Snook, daughter of Sunshine Coast pioneers, John Snook and Betsey Perren and they had two children.(John Snook was killed as a young man in a logging accident and Betsey married Robert Roberts, who raised John’s children as his own.) George enlisted in the 1stAIFin 1917 despite having two young children, George (6) and Alice (2). He sold the blacksmithing business to a former employee, Tom Robinson.
As for most young country men, joining the army was a new experience. They were loaded on the ship “HMAT A55 Kyarra” with their horses and gear to travel overseas to Suez during the First World War. George’s unit travelled on to Moascar and then to Palestine. Adams was described on his papers as having brown eyes, and dark hair with a dark complexion. He stood at 5feet 8inches tall and entered the army as a shoeing smith, a much needed profession in the Light Horse Regiment.
On his return to Australia and subsequent discharge from the army, George Adams returned to his home in Eumundi. There was much to do following the privations of war, even for a country that hadn’t been invaded. He once again purchased his former business, then owned by Jack Locke, and expanded it to take in the motor trade. He later worked as a Land & Commission Agent (Auctioneer), ran a general hardware store aided by his wife Martha, and became a councillor for the Maroochy Shire, serving in that capacity for nine years. George was a very determined man when it came to working for improvements to the Eumundi District.
With the versatility of men in that era, Adams was agent for the “famous” Defender Refrigerator and sold every description of trucks, tractors and farm machinery. George Adams took an interest in all sporting activities in the district and was the Secretary of the Eumundi Race Club operating there in the early 1920s. The former race course became a part of Mr. A.R. Robertson’s property in Sale Street.
George was one of five Eumundi residents who were members of the 5th Light Horse Regiment during the First World War. His passing reduced the ranks to two –Mr. W. Buck and Mr. I.W. Adams (George’s brother.)Tom Burrell and Mr. J.M. Lyons predeceased him.
George’s widow, Martha Adams died in 1972 and is buried in Eumundi Cemetery beside George.
Sources: National Archives of Australia; Nambour Chronicle 14 November 1913, 7 January & 28 January 1955; 1 September 1961 p.10.; 4 April 1972; 4 May 1972 p.72; 22 August 1972;Eumundi Families –“A Centenary Celebration” by Hessie Lindsell; With kind permission from Adopt-a-Digger.

From the Genealogy Sunshine Coast publication
“AND THEIR NAMES SHALL LIVE FOREVER…”
REMEMBERING MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THE OLD MAROOCHY SHIRE CEMETERIES – BOOK 2, THE SMALL CEMETERIES (DIDDILLIBAH, EUMUNDI, GHEERULLA, MAPLETON, OLD NAMBOUR, YANDINA)

Eumundi & District Roll of Honour Board, Eumundi Memorial School of Arts Hall, Memorial Drive, Eumundi

Nambour (Maroochy Shire) Roll of Honor Scroll, Private Collection, Nambour (this scroll was available for sale to the public after the war)