Lives of the First World War

Wearing uniform of Royal Warwickshire Regiment, rank of lance corporal.

Postcard sent by George from Weston-super-Mare. He has just been promoted to "lance-sargeant"

Showing birth date of George Francis Adams

1911 Census for George Francis Adams from Hethe, Oxfordshire. Lodging at Rose Cottage. Walsgrave on Sowe. Age 19, Occupation - Domestic Coachman

George Francis Adams, Sergeant, Sevice Number 8418, 10th Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Disembarked 18th July 1915. Medal(s) issued whilst serving with the Hampshire Regiment.

Royal Warwickshire Regiment, service no. 8418. Hampshire Regiment, service no. 03168. Theatre of War: (1) France Date iof entry therein: 18/7/15

Bicester Herald 15th January 1915 - mentions George and his brother Edwin joining the Royal Warwickshire Regiment also their second cousin Cyril Adams joining the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry.

Postcard of Walsgrave village stamped 25th March 1908. George is writing home to his mother. His address is Henley Farm Cottage Bell Green (near to Walsgrave). The view of Walsgrave Village is marked with a cross, showing Miss Verrall's house in Woodway lane. Miss Verrall was George's employer.

Coventry Evening Telegraph 12th May 1952. Gives a background to George's employer, Miss Marion Verrall. The reason he moved from being a coachman to a chauffeur is that Miss Marion Verrall's horses were requesitioned by the army in 1914. George undoubtedly drove the 1922 Humber mentioned in the article. He was the chauffeur until Miss Marion's death in 1953. He was employed by her from 1906, a total of 47 years.

Article about the long service of Miss Marion Verrall's employees. Mentions chauffeur George Adams (undoubtedly from Hethe as documented in other sources), but has 2 editorial errors. 1). George's father was a tailor, not a carpenter. 2). The family came from Hethe, not Banbury. The article mentions that George was a chauffeur for Miss Verrall since 1916 (was a coach man in 1911 census). The given year may not be correct as he served in the army in WW1. It is possible he was discharged in 1916 although no silver war medal record has been found. The article mentions George was a stable-boy at age 14 (in 1906).

Postcard / Photograph showing (in house entrance) Miss Florence Verrall (right) and Miss Marion Verrall (centre - next to priest) at their house "The Kennells" in Woodway Lane, Walsgrave on Sowe. This postcard was sent by George Adams on the 23rd of May 1914. The photograph possibly shows the May-day celebrations of 1914.

Postcard from Hethe, Oxfordshire c. 1910.

Photograph of a hunting scene at Binley Village (now a district of Coventry). Circa 1910. It is thought that the huntsman and huntswoman marked with a "cross" might be George Adams and his employer, Miss Marion Verrall. George had annotated this photograph and sent it home to Hethe in Oxfordshire.