Adamson was brother-in-law to Lewis Vaughan Lodge, who played international football for England.

He was killed on 17 September 1918 during an assault on enemy trenches at the Fourth Battle of Doiran on the Macedonian front in the Kingdom of Greece.

He scored 17 points from the Test matches, two tries, four conversions and a penalty goal, making him the Tour's top scorer.

This move is seen as the turning point in the tour, and the British team won the final three Tests, with Adamson scoring in all three victories.

On his return to Britain, Adamson continued playing rugby and during the 1901–02 season represented Bristol.