More about John Adamson

20827 Pte John Adamson   2^nd Bn A&SH and later 1/7 Bn A&SH

John Adamson was born in Dundee and a married man employed as a Spirit Salesman, married to Alice and at the time of enlistment they were residing at Graham Street, Johnstone, Renfrewshire and it was from here that John enlisted to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on 10 December 1915.  Being a married man John was immediately placed on the reserve and continued his civilian employment until mobilised on 21 May 1917,  attending the Depot of A&SH in Stirling the next day 22 May 1917.

At the depot he undergoes his basic military training from 23 May with the 4^th Trainingg Bn A&SH until his first deployment to the BEF on 3 Oct 1917 arriving at 19 Infantry Base Depot in France on 4 Oct 1917.  He is posted to join the 2^nd Bn A&SH in the field and serves with them until December 1917 when he is taken unwell and is eventually evacuated home via 20 Gen Hospital and the HMHS St Denis to UK where at Sunderland War Hospital he is treated for Acute Nephritis,  a kidney infection.    During this time in hospital he is on the administrative strength of the Regimental Depot in Stirling until he is fit enough to return to a reserve Bn of the Regiment. And it is on 5 April 1918 he rejoins the 3^rd Res Bn A&SH in UK.

Being now fit again for active service he embarks at Dover,  Landing in Calaise on 17 April 1918 and joining “M” Scottish Infantry Base Depot the same day and being posted to 1/7 Bn A&SH on 21 April 1918. He serves with this Bn until wounded with a Gunshot Wound to the head,   is admitted to a Field Ambulance but unfortunately succumbs to his head wounds later that same day 6 June 1918.  If there is perhaps any comforting light in this dark tragic event for John it might perhaps be found in the fact that the Field Ambulance he was admitted to and later died was a unit of his own home city,  1/3 Highland Field Ambulance,  the Dundee raised Field Ambulance serving throughout the Great War with 51^st Highland Division.

Later his widow Alice was known to be living at 10 Isla Street Dundee,  and his mother Mary Ann residing at 18 Hunter Street, Dundee.   Whilst John and Alice had no Children of their own John did have a brother David in Paisley and sister Aggie in Dundee.

He is interred in a small British Cemetery adjacent to the site occupied by 1/3 Highland Field Ambulance in June 1918  Anzin St Auben British Cemetery North West of Arras.