Royal Air Force
Born: 7th December 1914. Died: 1974
Story
Fred was the youngest son of Fred Adams (1872-1944) and Florence Stephenson (1874-1939), who lived on New Street. His eldest brother was William Stephenson Adams (1896-1963) who served in the First World War. Fred attended Kippax County Council School, then Gregg’s College, Leeds, before he joined the Royal Air Force in 1935, and after two years’ service, he went on to spend a further 4 years’ service in the Middle East, where he was under the command of another Kippax villager, Granville Firth. On 1st May 1942, it was reported that, whilst on leave, he had married Hilda Lunn (1917-1990) at St. Paul’s Church, Morley. Hilda also served as a nurse at a County Hospital during the War. Fred’s Best Man was his brother-in-law William Coleman (1910-1990), who like Fred, was an Aircraftman with the RAF, having also enlisted before the War. William Coleman had married his sister Gertrude Adams (1907-1990). Fred and Hilda held their wedding reception at Hilda’s family home of Gilroyd, Morley, and then spent their honeymoon in the Dukeries, Nottinghamshire. On 11th June 1943, it was reported that Fred had met up with other soldiers who lived in Kippax whilst serving in Gibraltar, including Harry Harrison, Leonard Wilson, Elvin Smith and Frank Sutton.
Below: Photo taken in the Middle East by a Leading Aircraftman, showing German planes targeting allied ships:
Kippax Roll of Honour 