Colonel D G Adams DSO OBE TD

Commanded 24^th London Regiment (The Queen's) re-named in 1937 7^th (Southwark) Bn The Queen's Royal Regiment from 18^th February 1933 to 18^th February 1938.

Donovan Guy Adams was born on 1^st February 1901 and educated at Haileybury.

He was commissioned in the 24^th (Defence Force) Battalion in April 1921. The next year he joined 24^th London Regiment (The Queen's) with whom he served until 1938. He was appointed to command the Battalion on 18^th February 1933. In 1937 the Battalion was re-named 7^th (Southwark) Bn The Queen's Royal Regiment. He transferred to TARO on 18^th February 1938 and was promoted Brevet. Colonel with seniority of 18^th February 1937.

On 1^st November 1938 he transferred to the Royal Artillery (TA) with the rank of Major, having relinquished the rank of Lt Col and served with 72^nd Searchlight Regiment RA (TA).

On 10^th March 1940 he was posted to 2/6^th Bn The East Surrey Regiment as second-in-command. The Battalion landed in France in April 1940 as a line of communications unit and became deeply involved in the battle for France. On 3^rd June he assumed command of the Battalion which he led with distinction during the intense fighting prior to the surrender at St Valery on 12^th June when he became a prisoner of war.

For his fine leadership he was awarded the DSO. For his conduct during the difficult years in a German prison camp he was made an OBE in 1945.

After the war he entered the service of the Foreign Office (German Section).

He died in Berlin on 3^rd September 1963.

For obituary see the Journal of The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Vol 1 No 8 page 549.

See also J M A Tamplin's The Lambeth and Southwark Volunteers page 247.

 

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