[1][2] He was the son of David Morgan Adams of Ystradowen, near Cowbridge, Glamorgan in South Wales and Bessie Dent of Poplar in the East End of London.

[2] He received elementary education in the local school in Ystradowen before entering employment in a coalmine as a teenager.

[1][2] He later joined the Merchant Navy as an able seaman, subsequently working on the light ships maintained by Trinity House.

[1][2] After the war he was employed in the docks by the Port of London Authority and was an official in the Transport and General Workers Union.

[2] In April 1930 he was elected unopposed to fill a vacancy on the London County Council, representing Poplar South.