Lindsay Thomas ADAMS
Lindsay Adams was born on 13 October 1895 in Heidelberg, Victoria. His parents were Thomas Barton and Bessie Isabella (née Sill) Adams. He attended Scotch from 1908 to 1914. At Scotch, Lindsay won the Alexander Morrison Prize Medal for Champion Essayist of the School in 1914.
Lindsay was a student when he enlisted on 3 March 1915 in Melbourne, Victoria. He served in the 6th Field Ambulance, 2nd Australian Division Headquarters (Australian Army Medical Corps) with the rank of Private. His Regimental Number was 55.
Lindsay died on 2 September 1915 at sea near Lemnos on the HMT Southland. He was 19 years of age.
Service record
Lindsay ‘Wamba’ or ‘Warhorse’ Adams was a member of the Australian Army Medical Corps. He transferred to the 2nd Division Headquarters from the 6th Field Ambulance on 7 August with his brother. He was travelling in HMT Southland from Alexandria, Egypt to Gallipoli in September 1915, when it was torpedoed by German submarine UB14 near Mudros Bay, Lemnos. He was in the fore part of the vessel when it was struck. A witness later told an inquiry he had seen Adams in the water, and a 1917 Court of Inquiry later concluded that he had drowned. Adams was a close friend of Cpl J.D. Burns, who was also on the Southland when it was sunk. On 4 September Burns wrote in a letter about the sinking:
‘Lindsay Adams, my friend at Scotch, who was also on board, is still missing. His brother is here, and has not given up hope, but I am afraid he has gone too.’ On the same day, another Scotch Collegian, H.W. ‘Pug’ Stephens, who had seen the torpedoing from another ship in the convoy, wrote:
‘I think Wamba Adams was among those who lost their lives through the accident.’
Lindsay Adams has no known grave but is commemorated at Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Photographs and Documents:
This photograph shows the Southland after it had been torpedoed on 2 September 1915. Two lifeboats can be seen leaving the ship at centre rear.
Sources:
- Australian War Memorial, Roll of Honour
- NAA: B2455, ADAMS Lindsay Thomas
- Scotch Collegian 1915, 1917, 1918
- Scotch Mishura Database
- The AIF Project - https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=958
