Herts at War - a community led project to commemorate the diverse experiences of Hertfordshire during the First World War.

Name

Gordon Victor Adamson

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

03/05/1915
18

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Rifleman
4211
London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles)
9th (County of London) Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

Not Yet Researched

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

WATFORD CEMETERY
Plot A1, Row G, Grave 792.
United Kingdom

Headstone Inscription

Not Researched

UK & Other Memorials

Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance

Pre War

Son of John and Mary Emily (nee AUSTIN) ADAMSON of Watford.

His parents married 1896 in the Wandsworth, London, district. Mary died 28 August 1939 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 30 August in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; John died 7 January 1943 in Watford aged 79, and was buried 13 January, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.

Gordon was born 13 June 1897 in York, and baptised 7 July 1897 at St Thomas’, York. He attended Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 9 January 1906 to 31 July 1907; then Watford Grammar School from September 1907 to July 1913. He resided in Watford, and was buried 6 May.

On the 1901 Census, aged 3 he lived in Willesden, London, with his parents and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 13, he lived in Watford, with his parents and no siblings.

Wartime Service

He enlisted in London, appears to have no medals, and died at 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge.

Unfortunately, Gordon’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.

Additional Information

The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:

"ADAMSON, GORDON VICTOR. School period: September, 1907, to July, 1913. Rifleman, Queen Victoria's Rifles. Died in Cambridge Military Hospital, 3rd May, 1915."

There is an article about and a Death announcement for Gordon in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 8 May 1915; as well as an In Memoriam from the Grammar School in the issue dated 31 July 1915.

Gordon's grave (not CWGC) bears the inscription:

TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF GORDON VICTOR ADAMSON QUEEN VICTORIA'S RIFLES DIED MAY 3. 1915. AGED 18 YEARS.

*1 The CWGC records his age as 17

Acknowledgments

Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)