6213208 Private Albert Thomas Adams
6213208 Private Albert Thomas Adams was born on the 22nd of December 1920 in Bethnal Green, London, the son of George John Adams and
his wife Elizabeth (née Millicent). In 1921 the family was living at 26 Bandon Road, Bethnal Green, London.
In 1940 he married Dorothy Grout in Southwark.
Sometime during the period of WW2 Albert enlisted with the RAMC and was posted to 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance,
which was part of the 1st Airborne Division.
After successfully completing Parachute Course 66 at Ramat David, Palestine, from 13 - 25 September 1943,
he was attached to Headquarters Company, 11th Parachute Battalion where he became Batman to
Captain Stuart Mawson,
who describes him as:
‘Cockney born and bred, short, dark and sturdy, with a somewhat mournful expression emphasised by a
moustache of which, I have been told, he was inordinately proud. He was a discreet but expert scrounger and,
although only in his very early twenties, seemed very old and knowing for his age. He never showed any
resentment at being what the army would regard as my servant…as a medical clerk he was a dependable keeper of
records...he sat with me in the sick parades and never missed a trick. From the medical knowledge thus gained he
founded a clandestine medical practice of his own. Men who did not care to go sick officially would seek him out
privately and ask his advice. He was also regarded by them as a reliable channel of information for some of the
unpublished aspects of Battalion affairs’.
(Excerpt taken from the book Arnhem Doctor (2008) by Stuart Mawson).
On 25th September 1944, along with Captain Mawson and
Sergeant Dwyer, Albert was reported as missing,
having been captured by the German and held as POW at Stalag 11B, Fallingbostel, Germany. His POW number was 118616.
Unfortunately, we do not know what happened to Albert or his wife after this date. If you or anyone you may know
has information about Albert we would love to hear from you.
We are still researching the life of Private Albert Adams. If you are a relative or have any information about him, please contact us.