James Forbes "Pongo" Adams
Army The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
The name James Stobie is so familiar!! My late father was James Forbes Adams of Nairn, was in the Cameron Highlanders (51st Highland Division). He was a drummer with Cameron Highlanders (Territorials) Pipe Band, and as he was 18, he got called up to take place of the 17 year old tip drummer.
After going to France with the BEF (51st HD), he was captured at St. Valery. That's him next to Kenneth Warner at the end of the row in the second photo. (See photo below) I know this, as I still have that portion that my Aunty Marj (ex Wren) had carried around in her purse throughout his captivity. We lived in Nairn until 1959, when we moved to Glenrothes in Fife. Dad was a founding member of the Nairn Pipeband, and later the Co-founded the Glenrothes Pipeband. After that he was involed with teaching youngsters a Cupar PB, and played with the Kelty and Blairadam PB (the year they won the 2nd Grade drumming at World Championships at Perth.James Forbes Adams at breakup of a Territorial camp near Fort George, just prior to hostilities.
The dreaded telegram his aunty received when he was posted missing.
Dad did attempt escape twice, once in Holland on the long march to Germany, and I believe the other time was when he was at Stalag XXA (Fort 13). He ended up at Stalag XXB. It was hard to get him to talk about his experiences. As a child, I can vividly remember him waking up screaming as a result of the nightmares (right up until the early 60's). He once let his guard down and told me how one night he awoke thinking he was dyingas he was completely soaked in blood. Sadly it was the chap in the bunk above him who had taken his own life.
