Cemetery: Cambrai Memorial Louverval

Country: France

Area: Nord

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Force: Army

Official Number:

Unit: 9th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

Country of Service: British

Details: V C 6th December 1917. Age 22. Son of John and Ellen Emerson of Collon Drogheda Co. Louth. Panel 5 and 6. An extract from "The London Gazette dated 12th Feb., 1918, records the following:-For repeated acts of most conspicuous bravery. He led his company in an attack and cleared 400 yards of trench. Though wounded when the enemy attacked in superior numbers he sprang out of the trench with eight men and met the attack in the open killing many and taking six prisoners. For three hours after this all other Officers having become casualties he remained with his company refusing to go to the dressing station and repeatedly repelled bombing attacks. Later when the enemy again attacked in superior numbers he led his men to repel the attack and was mortally wounded. His heroism when worn out and exhausted from loss of blood inspired his men to hold out though almost surrounded till reinforcements arrived and dislodged the enemy."

Photograph by David Milborrow