William Allan Bass “Allan” “Big Bill” “Spud” Adams

HERITAGE No: 261

BIRTH: 18 August 1896

Brisbane, Queensland

DEATH: 12 June 1977 Brisbane, Queensland

DEATH: 12 June 1977

Brisbane, Queensland

OCCUPATION: Fishmonger, 1930: Farmer, 1931

RESIDENCE: Possum Creek (Bangalow), NSW, 1925; Homer St Earlwood, NSW, 1930; Humnock Rd Pemberton (Bundaberg), Queensland, 1931

GAME HISTORY

Bangalow Royals RL 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923
Byron RL Representative v Newtown RL 1920
Bangalow RL v Lismore RL 1921
Byron RL Representative v Casino RL 1922
Byron RL Representative v Ballina RL 1924
Byron RL Representative v Lower Richmond RL 1924, 1925, 1926
Byron RL Representative v Newtown RL 1924 (W. Adams)
Byron RL Representative v Tweed RL 1925, 1926
Byron RL Representative v Balmain RL 1926
Far North Coast RL v New Zealand RL 1925
Far North Coast RL 1925, 1926, 1927
Byron Bay Seagulls RL 1926
Lismore All Blacks RL 1926, 1927
Lismore RL Possibles v Lismore RL Probables 1927
Country RL Seconds v City RL Seconds 1927
Wests RL First Grade 1928, 1929
Wests RL Seconds 1929
City RL Seconds v Country RL Seconds 1928

Allan

Allan Adams was born at Brisbane, Queensland. He moved with his family to the NSW far North Coast as an adolescent. The Adams family lived in a village by the name of Possum Creek in the Byron Bay hinterland.

He enlisted with the 41st Battalion at Lismore in 1916 and saw action on the Western Front. He was posted to the War Graves detachment at the end of hostilities.

Allan returned to Australia in 1919, and in 1920 his rugby league career took off. He was first noticed in 1920 in a match between a Byron Bay representative team and a visiting Newtown side from Sydney. Allan was playing on the wing and noted for his size and speed. At that time he was playing for the local Bangalow Royals Rugby League team.