Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

13/07/1940

Date of Discharge

09/01/1946

Place of Enlistment

Paddington NSW

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

20/07/1916

Place of Birth

Koorawatha NSW

Address (at enlistment)

Leichhardt Street, Kingston ACT

Occupation

Driver

Next of Kin

Joan Adam (wife), Kingston ACT

Service Number

NX57440 (N72232)

Final Rank

Sergeant

Final Unit

2/18 Battalion

Mentioned in Despatches (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 6 March 1947, p.760, position 102)

Adam was a Corporal with the 3rd Battalion (militia) before the war, lived in Kingston and worked as a driver/ carrier until he enlisted in July 1940. He married two months later and arrived in Singapore as a Sergeant with the 2/18 Battalion in February 1941. He served with the 2/18 Battalion in Malaya, at Nithsdale Estate, Jemaluang and Johore, but became a prisoner of war when the Japanese captured Singapore in February 1942 and was Mentioned in Despatches for services rendered while a POW. He was recovered from Changi in September 1945 and arrived home on 13 October 1945, later living in Campbell Street in Ainslie. Along with other returning POWs, he was welcomed home by the Governor General. In 1968 Adam was awarded the British Empire Medal for his work as the principal attendant at the House of Representatives. He died on 13 June 1983 and is buried in the ex-service personnel section of Gungahlin Cemetery.

Description - height 5 feet 6.5 inches, brown eyes, dark complexion, brown hair, Presbyterian. On his return to Australia he had an ulcer scar on his right ankle.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Canberra Public Cemeteries http://www.canberracemeteries.com.au/cem_gravesearch.asp
NAA RecordSearch - Series B883
AWM honours & awards
The Canberra Times - 27 January 1941, 15 July 1942, 11 October 1945, 17 October 1945, 31 December 1945, 1 January 1968