NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE

J B P Adams

iii

NOTHING
OF IMPORTANCE

A RECORD OF EIGHT MONTHS AT THE
FRONT WITH A WELSH BATTALION
OCTOBER, 1915, TO JUNE, 1916

BY
BERNARD ADAMS

WITH A PORTRAIT AND THREE MAPS

METHUEN & CO. LTD.
36 ESSEX STREET W.C.
LONDONiv

First Published in 1917v

TO
T. R. G.
WHO TAUGHT ME HOW TO THINK
vi

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IN MEMORIAM
BERNARD ADAMS

John Bernard Pye Adams was born onNovember 15th, 1890, at Beckenham, Kent.From his first school at Clare House, Beckenham,he obtained an entrance scholarship toMalvern, where he gained many Classical andEnglish prizes and became House Prefect. InDecember, 1908, he won an open Classical scholarshipat St John’s College, Cambridge, where hewent into residence in October, 1909. He wasawarded in 1911 Sir William Browne’s gold medals(open to the University) for a Greek epigram anda Latin ode, and in 1912 he won the medal for theGreek epigram again, and graduated with a FirstClass in the Classical Tripos. In his fourth year heread Economics.

On leaving Cambridge he was appointed by theIndia Office to be Warden and Assistant EducationalAdviser at the Hostel for Indian Students atCromwell Road, South Kensington. “He threwhimself,” writes Dr. T. W. Arnold, C.I.E., Secretaryof Indian Students, “with the enthusiasm of hisviiiardent nature into the various activities connectedwith 21 Cromwell Road, and endeared himself bothto the Indian students and to his colleagues.”Adams was always a quiet man, but his highabilities, despite his unobtrusiveness, could not bealtogether hidden; and in London, as in Cambridge,his intellect and his gift for friendship had theirnatural outcome. Mr. E. W. Mallet, of the IndiaOffice, bears testimony to “the very high valuewhich we all set on his work. He had great giftsof sympathy and character, strength as well askindliness, influence as well as understanding;and these qualities won him—in the rather difficultwork in which he helped so loyally and well—arare and noticeable measure of esteem.” Onhis side, he felt that the choice had been a rightone; he liked his work, and he learned a great dealfrom it.

His ultimate purpose was missionary work inIndia, and the London experience brought himinto close touch with Indians from every part ofIndia and of every religion.

In November, 1914, he joined up as lieutenantin the Welsh regiment with which these pagesdeal, and he obtained a temporary captaincy in thefollowing spring. When he went out to the frontin October, 1915, he resumed his lieutenancy, butwas very shortly given charge of a company, aposition which he retained until he was woundedin June, 1916,

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NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE