South African Heavy Artillery
Frank Owen Adams was born in Kings Norton, Birmingham in 1899, son of Frank Roland Adams (1872-1928), a carpenter and joiner, and Laura Carter (formerly Hunter) (1870-1932). His parents originated from the Blakeney, Gloucestershire district. In 1902 Frank Adams senior emigrated to South Africa and his family followed later settling in Schietpoort, Bronkhorstspruit, Transvaal where Frank Adams junior worked as a clerk for the National Bank before joining the Army. He was taken on the strength of the South African Heavy Artillery on 3 July 1917 and embarked for Europe on 14 August 1917. Serving in France, he was wounded in the right leg on 15 May 1918 and repatriated to the UK on 25 May. He died of wounds, complicated by pneumonia at the South African Military Hospital, Richmond, Surrey on 30 June 1918, aged 19 years.
His late paternal grandparents, Thomas Saunders Adams and Ann Adams, had lived at Pitching Green, Blakeney and were interred at Viney Hill (All Saints) Churchyard and it was arranged for their grandson Frank Owen Adams to be interred with them, the ceremony for which took place on 6 July 1918. The joint grave has a distinctive headstone embellished with an anchor.
Researched by Eric Nicholls February 2021