Matthias
Hedley, Sarah Ann, Matthias, Wm. Henry & William
Lena Emmerson
Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery
Willington Cemetery
In Willington Cemetery there is a family headstone which reads:-
In Loving Memory Of
WILLIAM EMMERSON
Beloved Husband Of Sarah Ann Emmerson
Of Willington
Who died May 31st 1920
Aged 46 Years
Also Their Dearly Beloved Son
Private MATTHIAS EMMERSON 10th D.L.I.
Who Was Killed In France January 6th 1917
Aged 20 Years
Death Divides But Memory Clings
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Matthias Emmerson was born November 5th 1896 at Willington, County Durham, the eldest of 3 sons all of whom survived. His father William Henry Emmerson native of Willington born 1873, married in 1895 in the district of Durham to Sarah Ann Burdon born 1878 at Spennymoor. William was employed as a deputy at the coal mine, in 1891 they were living at 12, Railway Terrace, Willington, later moving to Russell Street Brandon and Byshottle where their second son Hedley was born, April 23rd 1899 followed by William, July 15th 1902 at 7, Catherine Street. In 1911 Matthias (14) was employed as an apprentice barber.
Finished his apprenticeship Matthias opened his own business as a hairdresser. On the outbreak of war aged 19 years 3 months he enlisted for the duration of the war at Bishop Auckland, February 16th 1916 and was attested at Seaham, May 8th 1916, assigned as Private 32093 to the Durham Light Infantry where he trained and qualified as a Lewis gunner.
Prior to his departure for the Western Front he married October 29th 1916, Lena Kirby born at Seaham Harbour, July 4th 1896. He departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force from Folkestone bound for France, December 7th 1916, arriving at the 35th Infantry Base Depot, Etaples, where he was transferred to the 10th Battalion, joining them in the field December 26th 1916.
Private 32093 Matthias Emmerson Durham Light Infantry was killed in action less than a two weeks later, January 6th 1917, in the Arras sector during the build up for the major offensive along the Hindenburg Line planned for later that year in spring 1917.
Private Emmerson is interred at Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France grave II. B. 21. He was 20 years old.
His widow Lena of 15, Nelson Street, New Seaham received all monies due to him, a pension of 13 shillings 9 pence as of July 23rd 1917 and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. May 10th 1917 his personal effects were returned to her consisting of; 2 discs (1 green), letters, photos, wallet, cap badge, postcards, greetings cards and M. G. Certificate.
Lena Bowes remarried in 1920 George Patrick Daniel Haddigan with whom she had 2 children, George Edward 1921-2002 and Ruby 1923-1993. Lena Haddigan-Bowes nee Kirby died in 1981 at Portsmouth, Hampshire aged 75 years.
Matthias’s brother Hedley Emmerson also served during WW1 as Private 95790 Durham Light Infantry. He survived the conflict and died at Darlington, December 28th 1958 aged 59 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
The D.L.I. Book of Remembrance gives 7th January 1917 as date of death.
William Kirby adds that the Marriage certificate shows Pte. Emmerson's address as "Church Street Schools, New Seaham". The National School, Church Street, Seaham Harbour, was used to billet soldiers during the Great War. The certificate also shows that he was aged 19 and his bride was 21 when they married.
Mr. Kirby has also provided a news cutting from Durham Chronicle 09/02/1917 page 2 which reads as follows:
"Mr. and Mrs. Emmerson, of Katherine Street, Willington, have received information that their son, Matthew Emmerson, D.L.I. has been killed in action. Pte. Emmerson belonged to one of the oldest Willington families and had only been in France about a month. In trade he was a hairdresser and had been married only a few months.
The information of his death was conveyed to his wife by Second Lieut. P. Bradford in the following letter: 'Dear Mrs. Emmerson. – It is with deep regret that I have to tell you of the death in action of your husband, Pte. M. Emmerson. He was killed instantaneously at about 4 p.m. on January 6th. He was properly buried, along with some more of his regiment, but at present I am not allowed to tell you where. Although I had only known him for a short time, I always found him cherry and ready to volunteer for anything that was going. My sympathy and that of my brother officers goes out to you in your great sorrow.'"
Matthias Emmerson is remembered at Willington on W120.02 and W120.03
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 3
