It is with great sadness; we learn the news that Clarence Adams, a World War II veteran who was captured by Nazis during World War II has died. He was 102.
Clarence Adams, with the British Royal Artillery, was taken prisoner by the Germans early in the war and spent nearly five years as a POW, similar to his father who'd been taken prisoner in World War I.
Born and raised in Yorkshire, England, his father was a coal miner and his mother a housewife. Clarence was the youngest of eight siblings. As was the norm for coal miners then, they were very poor. Two weeks before his 15th birthday, after completing school, he started work as an apprentice joiner building cabinets, windows, doors, and stairs.
Mr. Adams was drafted into mandatory military service in the militia. After Britain declared war September 3, 1939, he became a member of the Army. Adams was trained as a signaler, after which he was sent to Dover Castle to the 34th Signal Training Regiment. On the last day of February 1940, he was shipped out to Cherbourg, France. They landed on March 3, 1940.
Trained as a gunner and then a radio signalman, he was captured during the Battle of Dunkirk and held prisoner for five years. Adams had little to no food, but he worked as a carpenter. He was liberated by General George Patton's Army on April 29, 1945, and returned to England and his wife, Olive.
In 1949, the family moved to the United States, first to Greenwich, Conn., then later settling in Santa Barbara.
Adams used his carpentry skills to enter the construction industry, becoming a general contractor, real estate agent and a homebuilder. He built many homes in the Santa Barbara and Ventura area.
Once he retired, Adams helped distribute food to the needy in the Santa Barbara area. He also spent time with his friends at the Canadian Legion and Sandpiper Clubhouse. Then, after moving to Highland, he attended the senior centers of Highland and Redlands, having lunch, playing cribbage and telling fun stories. Some days would find him playing pool in downtown Redlands at the Flamingo or reading at the Redlands A.K. Smiley Public Library.
Adams was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Olive, and his daughter Susan.
He is survived by his two daughters, Lorraine and Colleen; his five grandchildren, Bryan, Erin, Sean, Matthew and Charles; and many great- and great-great-children.
A memorial will be held in the future at a time and place to be announced when arrangements are finalized.
Clarence Adams, with the British Royal Artillery, was taken prisoner by the Germans early in the war and spent nearly five years as a POW, similar to his father who'd been taken prisoner in World War I.
Born and raised in Yorkshire, England, his father was a coal miner and his mother a housewife. Clarence was the youngest of eight siblings. As was the norm for coal miners then, they were very poor. Two weeks before his 15th birthday, after completing school, he started work as an apprentice joiner building cabinets, windows, doors, and stairs.
Mr. Adams was drafted into mandatory military service in the militia. After Britain declared war September 3, 1939, he became a member of the Army. Adams was trained as a signaler, after which he was sent to Dover Castle to the 34th Signal Training Regiment. On the last day of February 1940, he was shipped out to Cherbourg, France. They landed on March 3, 1940.
Trained as a gunner and then a radio signalman, he was captured during the Battle of Dunkirk and held prisoner for five years. Adams had little to no food, but he worked as a carpenter. He was liberated by General George Patton's Army on April 29, 1945, and returned to England and his wife, Olive.
In 1949, the family moved to the United States, first to Greenwich, Conn., then later settling in Santa Barbara.
Adams used his carpentry skills to enter the construction industry, becoming a general contractor, real estate agent and a homebuilder. He built many homes in the Santa Barbara and Ventura area.
Once he retired, Adams helped distribute food to the needy in the Santa Barbara area. He also spent time with his friends at the Canadian Legion and Sandpiper Clubhouse. Then, after moving to Highland, he attended the senior centers of Highland and Redlands, having lunch, playing cribbage and telling fun stories. Some days would find him playing pool in downtown Redlands at the Flamingo or reading at the Redlands A.K. Smiley Public Library.
Adams was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Olive, and his daughter Susan.
He is survived by his two daughters, Lorraine and Colleen; his five grandchildren, Bryan, Erin, Sean, Matthew and Charles; and many great- and great-great-children.
A memorial will be held in the future at a time and place to be announced when arrangements are finalized.
It is with great sadness; we learn the news that Clarence Adams, a World War II veteran who was captured by Nazis during World War II has died. He was 102.
Clarence Adams, with the British Royal Artillery, was taken prisoner by the Germans early in the war and spent nearly five years as a POW, similar to his father who'd been taken prisoner in World War I.
Born and raised in Yorkshire, England, his father was a coal miner and his mother a housewife. Clarence was the youngest of eight siblings. As was the norm for coal miners then, they were very poor. Two weeks before his 15th birthday, after completing school, he started work as an apprentice joiner building cabinets, windows, doors, and stairs.
Mr. Adams was drafted into mandatory military service in the militia. After Britain declared war September 3, 1939, he became a member of the Army. Adams was trained as a signaler, after which he was sent to Dover Castle to the 34th Signal Training Regiment. On the last day of February 1940, he was shipped out to Cherbourg, France. They landed on March 3, 1940.
Trained as a gunner and then a radio signalman, he was captured during the Battle of Dunkirk and held prisoner for five years. Adams had little to no food, but he worked as a carpenter. He was liberated by General George Patton's Army on April 29, 1945, and returned to England and his wife, Olive.
In 1949, the family moved to the United States, first to Greenwich, Conn., then later settling in Santa Barbara.
Adams used his carpentry skills to enter the construction industry, becoming a general contractor, real estate agent and a homebuilder. He built many homes in the Santa Barbara and Ventura area.
Once he retired, Adams helped distribute food to the needy in the Santa Barbara area. He also spent time with his friends at the Canadian Legion and Sandpiper Clubhouse. Then, after moving to Highland, he attended the senior centers of Highland and Redlands, having lunch, playing cribbage and telling fun stories. Some days would find him playing pool in downtown Redlands at the Flamingo or reading at the Redlands A.K. Smiley Public Library.
Adams was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Olive, and his daughter Susan.
He is survived by his two daughters, Lorraine and Colleen; his five grandchildren, Bryan, Erin, Sean, Matthew and Charles; and many great- and great-great-children.
A memorial will be held in the future at a time and place to be announced when arrangements are finalized.
Clarence Adams, with the British Royal Artillery, was taken prisoner by the Germans early in the war and spent nearly five years as a POW, similar to his father who'd been taken prisoner in World War I.
Born and raised in Yorkshire, England, his father was a coal miner and his mother a housewife. Clarence was the youngest of eight siblings. As was the norm for coal miners then, they were very poor. Two weeks before his 15th birthday, after completing school, he started work as an apprentice joiner building cabinets, windows, doors, and stairs.
Mr. Adams was drafted into mandatory military service in the militia. After Britain declared war September 3, 1939, he became a member of the Army. Adams was trained as a signaler, after which he was sent to Dover Castle to the 34th Signal Training Regiment. On the last day of February 1940, he was shipped out to Cherbourg, France. They landed on March 3, 1940.
Trained as a gunner and then a radio signalman, he was captured during the Battle of Dunkirk and held prisoner for five years. Adams had little to no food, but he worked as a carpenter. He was liberated by General George Patton's Army on April 29, 1945, and returned to England and his wife, Olive.
In 1949, the family moved to the United States, first to Greenwich, Conn., then later settling in Santa Barbara.
Adams used his carpentry skills to enter the construction industry, becoming a general contractor, real estate agent and a homebuilder. He built many homes in the Santa Barbara and Ventura area.
Once he retired, Adams helped distribute food to the needy in the Santa Barbara area. He also spent time with his friends at the Canadian Legion and Sandpiper Clubhouse. Then, after moving to Highland, he attended the senior centers of Highland and Redlands, having lunch, playing cribbage and telling fun stories. Some days would find him playing pool in downtown Redlands at the Flamingo or reading at the Redlands A.K. Smiley Public Library.
Adams was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Olive, and his daughter Susan.
He is survived by his two daughters, Lorraine and Colleen; his five grandchildren, Bryan, Erin, Sean, Matthew and Charles; and many great- and great-great-children.
A memorial will be held in the future at a time and place to be announced when arrangements are finalized.
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