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2nd Lt. James Samuel Emerson VC.
British Army 9th Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
from:Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
(d.6th Dec 1917)
James Emerson was killed in action on the 6th of December 1917, aged 22 and is commemorated on The Cambrai Memorial, France. He was the son of John and Ellen Emerson, of Collon, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
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.
