Born in Haddon, Victoria and a farmer by trade, John Edward Adams (SN1612) was 28 years and single when enlisted on 28th March 1916 from Mildura, Victoria in 38th Battalion, D Company.
His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Runic on 20th of June 1916 and disembarked Plymouth, England on 10th August 1916.
John then proceeded overseas to France on 22nd of November 1916. John received a promotion to Lance Corporal on the 7th of August 1917; then was promoted to Temporary Corporal on the 23rd of October 1917; Corporal on the 12th of December 1917; promoted Temporary Sergeant on the 12th of December 1917 and after a short leave in Paris, was promoted to Sergeant on the 13th of January 1918.
John was admitted to Hospital from time to time for mumps, rheumatism, trench feet and scabies, pyrexia of unknown origin, urethritis, venereal disease, pleurisy and pneumonia from 22nd February 1917 to 1 September 1919.
John commenced his return to Australia on board Raranga on 8 September 1919; disembarked at Melbourne, 27 October 1919 and was discharged at Melbourne as medically unfit on the 19th of December 1919.
In November 1919, John had made application for a Qualification Certificate to apply for land under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Acts, requesting 640 acres for wheat growing in the Boinka (Mallee) area. It was also around the same time that John Adams married Lily Moiler. John's application for land was successful and for the next 30 years he farmed at Boinka. In 1950, John and Lily retired to Mildura and by 1963 they had relocated again. This time they had moved into a War Veteran Home in Cheltenham, Victoria.
John died on 3 May 1970 at Heidelberg, Victoria and was buried at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery.