Adam, James Henry
271 Quarter Master Sergeant James Henry Dalzeil Adam - 44th Battalion AIF
James Henry Dalzeil Adam was born in Fremantle in 1897 to James and Mary Adam. He was one of seven siblings, with, Evelyn 1895, Dorothy 1899, Harold 1902, Edwyna 1904, Edna 1906 and Gladys 1908.
James was educated in Fremantle with the family living at 106 Mary Street Beaconsfield. (later renumbered to 50 Solomon Street). James had also seen service with the 86A Cadets and then the 86th Regiment of the Citizens Military Services.
On the 6th February 1916 James enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 117lbs;
Chest Measurement - 29-33 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Fair.
Upon his successful enlistment he was sent to Claremont Showgrounds Camp. After some basic infantry training in the depot he was assigned to "B" Company of the 44th battalion with the regimental number 271. During the initial training James was promoted to Lance Corporal in March 1916. During the next few months they undertook much training in the Claremont region and going on the rifle range at Osborne. (present day Swanbourne).
They trained in WA through March, April and My 1916 when their orders to depart finally came through.
On the 6th June 1916 James and his Battalion boarded the HMAT Suevic in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England, arriving at Plymouth on the 21st July 1916. After being disembarked, the men were sent to the 3rd Division Training Camp on the Salisbury Plains, where they would remain for several months. It wasn’t until the 25th November 1916 that the 44th Battalion left Southampton England for the journey across to France.
After arriving they were sent to the sector around Armentieres where they would gain experience of Western Front life. The 44th Battalion remained in this sector for the next few months over the French winter. In December 1916 James had a few days in hospital with bronchitis but otherwise came through this time unscathed.
The 44th Battalion soon moved from Armentieres in France to the Ploegsteert sector in Belgium. From March to August 1917 they would remain in this area. In the first few months as well as the usual routines of trench warfare, the men also undertook trench raids on the German positions. The amount of raids seemed to increase, the closer it got to the start of the Messines Offensive. On June 3rd 1917 the 44th Battalion conducted a raid in Germans positions at Ploegsteert but James came through the action unscathed.
There had been over 20 mines dug beneath the German lines and on the given signal on June 7th 1917 these were exploded, devastating the German front line.
The 44th Battalion took part in the Messines advance as they were assigned the 2nd & 3rd objectives in their sector which took place in the days after June 7th. These were successfully taken though after their initial setback the German resistance had strengthened considerably.
Through June and July 1917 the 44th Battalion remained in the Messines sector and on 31st July 1917 took part in the successful action at Warneton. In August 1917 James was promoted to the rank of Corporal.
In September 1917 the 44th Battalion moved to Ypres in Belgium where they would take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 44th Battalion saw action at Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele through October and November 1917. James came through all these actions safely.
From December 1917 to March 1918 the 44th Battalion held the line in Belgium south east of Ypres.
As a result of the German offensive on March 21st 1918 which broke through the British front line further south, the Australian Divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop the German advance. The 44th Battalion were sent to an area near the Somme River at Sailly-le-Sec and Sailly Laurette. The 44th Battalion advanced till they met the Germans in the field near Sailly Laurette and though the German fire stopped the 44th from advancing, the Germans were also stopped.
James and the 44th Battalion were in this sector for the next few months. On the 4th July 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful capture of Hamel village. James came through this action unscathed.
On the 8th August 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful advance from the Villers-Bretonneux front and they took their objectives. After his Platoon Sergeant was wounded in the action, James was promoted to Sergeant.
The 44th Battalion advanced continually for the next several weeks, seeing action around Bray, Clery and Peronne. On the 17th September James was promoted to Temporary Company Quarter Master Sergeant.
By the 29th September 1918 the 44th Battalion were at the Hindenburg Line defences at Bony. The 44th Battalion was involved in the attack for the next few days but again Charlie came through safely.
The 44th battalion were then withdrawn for a well deserved rest period. James was then given his first break of the war, when he was granted a two week furlough to the UK from, the 17th October to 1st November 1918. The 44th Battalion were still out of the line when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918. It was at this time that his rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant was confirmed.
When the Germans withdrew to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. The Australian units would remain here through to May 1919 when they were finally disbanded. During this time the Australians were being sent home.
Apart from a two week leave period to the UK in March 1919, James remained with the 44th Battalion in France till April 1919. On the 28th April 1919 James returned to the UK. He was then sent to No.3 Group Camp at Codford where he would wait to be assigned a berth on a troopship home.
On the 21st June 1919 James boarded the transport ship Kongin Louise and set sail for Australia, arriving at Fremantle on the 3rd August 1919.
James had served with the 44th battalion through all their major actions and had not been wounded once. He was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on the 17th September 1919.
He then returned home to Mary Street Fremantle and resumed his occupation as a Clerk.
In 1923 he married Daisy Sarah Esther Marie (Sally) Blinco, and they would have four children, with, Joyce 1924, Kingsley 1926, Roderic 1929 and Graham 1930.
By 1925 the family were living at Goldsmith road Claremont before moving to 4 Hammersley Road Subiaco. James was working as a clerk during this period.
In the late 1920's they moved to South Perth. James was secretary of South Perth branch of RSL during this time.
In 1936 the family was living at Coode street South Perth. They then moved to Angelo street South Perth in 1943.
Sadly in August 1951 James's son Graham was involved in a traffic accident near Bolgart in which he was killed.
James lived in South Perth for next thirty years
He died on the 22nd October 1974. James was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.