Lt Col Noel Percy Adams was remembered as walking over the Rimutakas with every draft of soldiers heading to the Front, in full kit and leading his white horse: 'not until he turned back to camp did he ever climb into the saddle' recorded one tribute.
His is one of the stories that will be told in the major exhibition on Featherston Military Training Camp opening at Aratoi in January.
Noel Percy Adams was born in Nelson in 1882, the only child of Nelson solicitor Percy Adams. Groomed for a military career from an early age, it appears he was born to lead - while still only in his mid-30s he became commandant of the Featherston Camp from its opening in January 1916, a role he continued until the Wars end. Significantly larger than the town of Featherston itself, the training camp was the largest of its kind in Australasia. As such, Adams was responsible for the training and wellbeing of over 60,000 men, and also oversaw the 1000-strong training and administrative staff who ran the camp. Most of the roughly 100,000 New Zealanders who served overseas during World War One were trained at Featherston Camp. The NZ Division had about 18,000 men at any one time and was one of about 70 divisions in the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).
Adams was educated at Nelson College (1893-1901) and began his military career with the Nelson College Cadets before attending Cambridge University from 1902, training for the law (Trinity Hall; B.A.1905, M.A.1908). In England he became a part-time soldier in the Cambridge University Mounted Rifles, later commanding the unit. He went on to King Edward's Horse (made up of colonials in England) with the rank of captain. A keen sportsman, he represented Cambridge in tennis, rowing and soccer.
He worked as a barrister of the Inner Temple, London, and in 1910 married Eileen Raw there, returning with her New Zealand where he joined his father's firm. The couple leased the Riddiford family home 'Longwood,' near Featherston, during the war.
In 1917 Lt Col Adams was appointed a CMG - Companion to the Order of St Michael and St George - in recognition of his work in training camps and specifically Featherston Camp. This exhibition will be the first public detailed recognition of his significant role in New Zealand's World War One contribution.
Featherston Camp 1916-2016: The Record of a Remarkable Achievement, 23 Jan - 31 July 2016.
Caption: Top left: Noel Adams with his Cambridge tennis team. Right: Colonel Adams C.M.G. NZFA - Camp Commandant. Below: Col. Adams (left) and Col. Macdonald (centre) lead a reinforcement just commencing the Rimutaka march. Photographer Luther Mence provided the photo for the 1917 Featherston Camp book. This is one of many photos that appear in 'A Long Long Trail' by Neil Frances (Fraser Books, Masterton), launched in Featherston last weekend.
WHAT'S ON FOR NEXT WEEK:
A Wall of Words: Marie E. Potter, until 4 Dec; VISION / MEMORY: Marie E. Potter installation, until 4 Dec; Kura Gallery at Aratoi: Mauri Ora - The essence of all things, until 4 Dec. One Postcard a Day: Steffen Kreft until 13 Dec; Robin White with Ruha Fifita: Ko e Hala Hangatonu: The Straight Path, until 5 January.