Private Felix Arthur Adams served with the Canadian Forestry Corps in the Great War. Felix served in England and in the Jura and Marne groups in France.
Felix had a lacerated left eye in childhood, required removal. Fitted with an ocular prosthesis, which he would lose more than once during his service abroad. Born 12 June 1897 in Suffolk, England. Son of Teller Adams of Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk, UK.
Private Felix Arthur Adams 1093181 joined 254th Overseas Battalion on 28 December 1816 in Belleville, Ontario. A big (nearly 6′ tall, 150 pounds) young (19 years of age) strong man ideally suited for the CFC.
254th Overseas Battalion
Organized in November 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A P Allen. Mobilized at Belleville, Ontario and recruited in the Belleville district. Three regiments in the area recruited for the 254th Battalion, including the 15th Regiment (Argyll Light Infantry), 16th Prince Edward Regiment, and 49th Regiment, Hastings Rifles. Draft of 39 to 253rd Battalion in April 1917.
Private Felix Arthur Adams served four months with the 254th in Canada.
The 254th Battalion embarked from Halifax 2 June 1917 aboard OLYMPIC, and disembarked in England on 9 June 1917 with a strength of 8 officers, 237 other ranks. Absorbed by 6th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 10 June 1917.
General Order No. 110 of 1929 granted a single battle honour to the 254th Battalion, CEF: The Great War, 1917.
Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC)
Authorized in October 1916 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander McDougall, the Canadian Forestry Corps composed of companies, each of which came under one of the six district headquarters in Great Britain or one of the eight district headquarters in France.
Forestry Battalions raised in Canada (224th, 230th, 238th, 242nd) absorbed by the Canadian Forestry Corps depot upon their arrival in Great Britain.
Companies in France numbered below 100. Those in Britain numbered 101 and up. The base depot at Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park. The Canadian Forestry Corps in France came under the British Expeditionary Force Director of Works until March 1917 when a Directorate of Forestry created.
La forêt de Nieppe
Forestry Control Department, La forêt de Nieppe, March 1917. Two women members of the Forestry Corps clearing a trunk of branches after the tree has been felled, Petworth, Sussex.
Maori lumber worker setting his saw in La forêt de Nieppe, March 1917. Officers of the Forestry Control Department on the bank of the canal, La forêt de Nieppe.
Districts in England
Districts in Great Britain Nos. 51 (formerly No.1 at Inverness), 52 (formerly No.2, at Carlisle), 53 (formerly No.3, at Egham), 54 (formerly No.4, at Southampton), 55 (at Stirling) and also 56 (at East Sheen).
Private Felix Arthur Adams deployed for two months in the CFC in England.
Last Will of Private Felix Arthur Adams
Felix completes his will on 18 April 1917, so he soon proceeded overseas, and spends 21 months service in France with the CFC.
Districts in France
Districts in France were organized in groups (Central, Bordeaux, Jura).
Private Felix Arthur Adams transferred to 230th Forestry Corps Battalion, 13 April 1917.
Pte Felix Adams with No 51 Company from 10 July 1917.
No. 51 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps (No. 6 District, Jura Group)
Organized at Sunningdale in June 1917 and arrived in France on 12 June 1917.
Jura Group Headquarters authorised from 5 November 1917, comprising two Districts No 5 and No 6 with Lt-Col G H Johnson commanding. Private Felix Arthur Adams to No 76 Company on 8 November 1917.
Leave to England for all ranks cancelled in December. In lieu of leave to UK, ranks can take 10 Days Leave to Paris. All the men in the Jura Group paid 50 Francs during Christmas week to buy presents to send back home.
FGCMs
At a FGCM held on 29 November 1917, Pte Howard F McLean 793264 arraigned and convicted on the following charges.
- When on Active Service committing an offense against the property of an inhabitant of the country in which he was serving.
- Striking his superior Officer.
- Disobeying a lawful command given by his superior Officer.
- Resisting an escort.
The accused found guilty and sentenced to 8 months Imprisonment Hard Labour and stoppages of Seven Francs. Sentence severe since Howard had twice been reprimanded for being drunk, and three times AWOL. Pte Harry L Johnson 488271 of No 40 Company, similarly arraigned, convicted and found guilty of the same charges.
Work Hard, Play Hard
The most undisciplined units of the CEF, without a doubt, the lumberjacks of the Canadian Forestry Corps. Difficult for the Military Police to prevent the ease of access to drink and women far behind the front lines. Undisciplined infantry often found themselves sent to tunneling companies or the CFC.
On 10 December 1917, Pte H Matheson 434549 of 39 Coy and Pte O Richer 666897 arraigned and convicted on the following charges.
- When on Active Service committing an offense against the person of an inhabitant of the country in which he was serving.
- Absenting himself without leave.
- Drunkenness.
Major B Harvey proceeded to Gerardmer for another FGCM on 22 December. During the month of December, 97 ‘patients’ admitted to hospital. The greater majority, cases of VDG. No 2 Construction Battalion almost always last in line for medical treatment. Last in line for supplies as well. As a result, they often went without rations
and new clothing for long periods of time.
No 2 Construction Battalion
No 2 Construction Battalion often employed with the Canadian Forestry Corps (See MIKAN No 3642864). The decision made to send No 2 Construction Battalion to the CFC because the Battalion would go a long way towards supplying the CFC with the reinforcements it so badly needed in mid 1917.
The decision also motivated by the racial prejudices of some officers, including Major Everett Bristol, Secretary to the Overseas Military Forces (position occupied by George Perley).
“These Niggers do well in a Forestry Corps and other Labour units [but] the prospects of maintaining [the] battalion are not very bright.”
Major Everett Bristol (former Captain 48th Highlanders of Canada)
Pte Adams transferred to No 76 Company in November of 1917.
Group HQ moved to the village of Andelot on 28 December 1917.
No. 76 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps (No. 10 District, Marne Group)
Organized at Sunningdale in September 1917 under the command of Captain M D McKeigan. Arrived in France 23 September 1917. Returned to England in February 1919.
The Marne group had completed their aerodomes construction in England and moved their HQ to 14 Place des Etats-Unis, Paris on 1 September 1918. Staff Captain Peter Douglas Lorne Lyall attached to HQ. Lyall commands a group as Lt-Col from 1 July 1918.
Sick
While being treated for NYD, an artificial eye resupplied, 20 March 1918 at the Base Hospital in Rouen. Felix rejoins his unit on 28 April 1918.
Pte Adams granted 14 days leave to UK, 2 September 1918, and later rejoined unit from leave, 19 September 1918.
Demobilization
Good Conduct Badge
Felix awarded a Good Conduct Badge on 28 December 1918. The badge often given to soldiers for having avoided the local brothels. In the Canadian Forestry Corps, Good Conduct Badges few and far between.
Felix evacuated to No 1 District Hospital, 28 January 1919. The Canadian Forestry Corps stationed in Gerardmer during February 1919.
Return to England
Pte Adams returns to Sunningdale, Berks, on 6 April 1919.
At Kinmel Park Camp on 20 April 1919 (having avoided the riots), Felix declares he will reside at Felix resided at 41 Colborne St, Kingston, Ontario upon his return to Canada.
Felix returned per SATURNIA GLASGOW on 11 May 1919.
Once again, his left eye missing (replaced) and Felix finally discharged on 22 May 1919 in Kingston, Ontario.
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Comments
One response to “Private Felix Arthur Adams in the Great War”
Excellent, very much appreciated the work you put into documenting my grandfathers time in the war.