The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details Name Adamson, Robert James Rank: Guardsman Service No: 2718510 Regiment: 1 Battalion Irish Guards Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy Award: Distinguished Conduct Medal Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 15 June 1944 Date 1944 Catalogue reference WO 373/6 LG - Viewing Page 2853 of Issue 36563 24th Guards Brigade, 1st British Division, 5th U.S. Corps 27155100 Guardsman Robert James ADAMSON, 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS. In the ANZIO Beach head this Guardsman was [a] member of a platoon of No. 3 Company which on the night 21/22 February [1944] took over positions from the II/6th U.S. Regiment. Guardsman ADAMSON and a Guardsman MONTGOMERY were allotted to a forward outpost position. On the way up they picked up an abandoned American Browning Machine gun and ammunition. With this Machine gun and a box of grenades these two men established themselves well forward of the company position and spent the night harrying German posts and breaking up German patrols. Just before dawn, Guardsman ADAMSON went back to the former American positions where he found another Browning and more ammunition. These he brought forward, and then for the rest of the day those two Guardsmen, Guardsman ADAMSON and his companion, conducted a private war against the enemy. They operated on the ridges forward of the enemy positions and could be quite clearly seen as they moved from place to place, covering each other with great skill, till they came to the final phase of each little operation. When under covering fire from his companion, Guardsman ADAMSON closed in on the sniper or Spandau posts, and, not having the means or inclination to take prisoners, shot the Germans with a Tommy Gun, which was his original equipment. Guardsman MONTGOMERY was eventually wounded and had to withdraw, so Guardsman ADAMSON continued operations alone and for the three last hours of daylight gave the enemy no rest and no chance to form up for an organized attack. At dusk, Guardsman ADAMSON came in to Company H.Q. and asked a Stretcher-bearer to dress what he called a slight wound on the side of his face. While this was being done he fainted, and it was seen that he had a severe wound which must have been causing him intense pain. It is impossible to find out when exactly Guardsman ADAMSON was wounded, but it is certain that for some time he must have been fighting while handicapped by excruciating pain, which would have incapacitated a man of lesser physical and mental determination and complete devotion to duty. Guardsman ADAMSON's remarkable and persistent gallantry, his initiative and skill, and his complete disregard of danger and suffering, on top of a long and excellent record as a fighting man in TUNISIA and ITALY, deserve in my opinion the immediate award of the D.C.M. signed CA Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Lieut.-Colonel, Commanding 1st Battalion Irish Guards GRANTED AN IMMEDIATE D.C.M. signed HR ALEXANDER, General, Commander-in-Chief, Allied Central Mediterranean Force
Army Number: 2718510 Rank: Guardsman Name: R ADAMSON Unit: 1 Irish Guards GSM & Clasp: GSM, Palestine Clasp 1936 - 1939 TNA Reference: WO 100/503
PERSONAL INFORMATION Name: ADAMSON, Robert James DOB: 9th January 1918 Place of Birth: Residence: Morpeth, Northumberland Died: April, 2000, aged 82, Westminster, London Trade/Profession: Parents: Wife: Photo: SERVICE Army Number: 2718510 Rank: Guardsman Regiment/Battalion: Irish Guards, 1st Battalion As at 01/09/1939: Irish Guards Enlisted: 1936 Discharged: 1946 Promotions: Aquittance Roll: Army Casualty List (WO 417): 2718510 Guardsman Adamson, R J 1944 Irish Guards The Times Casualty List: MEDALS Gallantry Award: Distinguished Conduct Medal The Times: 16 Jun 1944 - D.C.M. Guardsman Adamson R. J. Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy London Gazette, 15th June, 1944: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36563/supplement/2853/data.pdf War Office, 15th June, 1944 The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy — Distinguished Conduct Medal. No. 2718510 Guardsman Robert James Adamson, Irish Guards (Morpeth, Northumberland) TNA Link: Recommendation for Award for Adamson, Robert James Rank: Guardsman Service... | The National Archives Citation: "24th Guards Brigade, 1st British Division, 5th U.S. Corps 27155100 Guardsman Robert James ADAMSON, 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS. In the ANZIO Beach head this Guardsman was [a] member of a platoon of No. 3 Company which on the night 21/22 February [1944] took over positions from the II/6th U.S. Regiment. Guardsman ADAMSON and a Guardsman MONTGOMERY were allotted to a forward outpost position. On the way up they picked up an abandoned American Browning Machine gun and ammunition. With this Machine gun and a box of grenades these two men established themselves well forward of the company position and spent the night harrying German posts and breaking up German patrols. Just before dawn, Guardsman ADAMSON went back to the former American positions where he found another Browning and more ammunition. These he brought forward, and then for the rest of the day those two Guardsmen, Guardsman ADAMSON and his companion, conducted a private war against the enemy. They operated on the ridges forward of the enemy positions and could be quite clearly seen as they moved from place to place, covering each other with great skill, till they came to the final phase of each little operation. When under covering fire from his companion, Guardsman ADAMSON closed in on the sniper or Spandau posts, and, not having the means or inclination to take prisoners, shot the Germans with a Tommy Gun, which was his original equipment. Guardsman MONTGOMERY was eventually wounded and had to withdraw, so Guardsman ADAMSON continued operations alone and for the three last hours of daylight gave the enemy no rest and no chance to form up for an organized attack. At dusk, Guardsman ADAMSON came in to Company H.Q. and asked a Stretcher-bearer to dress what he called a slight wound on the side of his face. While this was being done he fainted, and it was seen that he had a severe wound which must have been causing him intense pain. It is impossible to find out when exactly Guardsman ADAMSON was wounded, but it is certain that for some time he must have been fighting while handicapped by excruciating pain, which would have incapacitated a man of lesser physical and mental determination and complete devotion to duty. Guardsman ADAMSON's remarkable and persistent gallantry, his initiative and skill, and his complete disregard of danger and suffering, on top of a long and excellent record as a fighting man in TUNISIA and ITALY, deserve in my opinion the immediate award of the D.C.M. signed CA Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Lieut.-Colonel, Commanding 1st Battalion Irish Guards GRANTED AN IMMEDIATE D.C.M. signed HR ALEXANDER, General, Commander-in-Chief, Allied Central Mediterranean Force" Recommendation: Campaign Medals: Medal Roll Details: WO 100/503 2718510Guardsman ADAMSON R 1st Bn. Irish Guards Palestine Clasp 1936 - 1938 REFERENCES War Diaries: War Diary: 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS, September 1939 - July 1944 Archive Files: WO 417, WO 100/503 Publications: IG History pgs 301, 334, 336, 340 IG Journal: 2000 - Guardsman Adamson, D.C.M. R., Enlisted 1936 Left 1946 DOD ?/04/2000 Age 82 Accounts: War Memorial: Newspaper: Websites: Irish Guards: Gallantry Awards & Honours - WWII Open Resource Group Irish Guards: Medal Roll Palestine Clasp 1936 - 1939 - WWII Open Resource Group ADAMSON, ROBERT JAMES, DCM, 1BN IG
1st Bn Irish Guards, Honours & Awards, Chelsea Barracks, 1944 Back Row: D/Sgt. M. Moran, MM, C.S.M. P. Mercer, MM, L/Sgt D. Smith, Mentioned in Despatches, Captain A.F.D. O'Neill (R.A.M.C.), Mentioned in Despatches, Sgt R. Thorogood, Mentioned in Despatches, C.S.M. G. Stone, Mentioned in Despatches, Sgt. A. Hughes, MM Middle Row: R.S.M. F. Kenny, Mentioned in Despatches, L/Sgt R. Murphy, MM, Guardsman J. Branthwaite, MM, Guardsman T. Barker, Mentioned in Despatches, Sgt. M. O'Brien, MM, Sgt, C. Gundel, DCM, Sgt. R. McConnell, MM, L/Cpl A. Cross, MM, L/Cpl H. Hayman, MM, L/Sgt C. Weir, MM, Rev. Fr. J.R. Brookes, Mentioned in Despatches Front Row: Lieut. (QM) H.F. McKinney, MBE, Mentioned in Despatches, Guardsman P. O'Shea, DCM, R.S.M. W. Rooney, MM, Major G.P.M. FitzGerald, MC, Major H.L.S. Young, DSO, Captain & Adjutant D.J.L. FitzGerald, MC, L/Sgt J.P. Kenneally, VC, Major D.M.L. Gordon-Watson, MC, Guardsman R. Adamson, DCM, Captain C.D. Kennard, DSO, Captain O.S. Chesterton, MC, Guardsman J. Ryan, MM, Captain T.C. Keigwin, MC Amongst those not in the photograph are Major D.M. Kennedy, MC, WO II D T Lynch DCM (POW) & Serjeant W. Montgomery, DCM (POW).
