Denain Communal Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Christopher Embleton was born July 7th 1894 at Gateshead, County Durham, the eldest of 2 sons and 3 daughters offspring of Cuthbert Donnison Embleton born 1856 and Mary Jane Hannah Jobson born 1865 both natives of Gateshead, County Durham who were married September 23rd 1889 in the parish of Venerable Bede, Gateshead. They lived at 3, Castle Place next to the Castle Place Hotel, Cuthbert was employed as a blacksmith’s hammer-man. After the death of his father January 22nd 1906, when William was only 12 years old, he became the main bread-winner. Aged 16 years he worked as an apprentice metal moulder, his mother was employed as an office cleaner, they had moved to 114 Cuthbert Road, Gateshead.
On the outbreak of war William Christopher Emblazon enlisted and was assigned as Sapper 1519 Royal Engineers (T). With the development of the Anti-Aircraft Section which although initially planned in 1914 was not fully realised until 1915 when two Searchlight Sections were stationed at Saint Omer and expanded by August to 13 Sections, he was transferred as Sapper 466055 Royal Engineers to the 10th Anti- Aircraft Searchlight Section. He was drafted to France as of 1916 although it is impossible to know his exact movements as the 10th AA is not well documented and Sapper Embleton’s service record no longer exists, part of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, however Denain, Nord, France where he is buried was a German Hospital Centre that from November 1st 1918 to March 12th 1919 was the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station after the recapture of the town.
Sapper 466055 William Christopher Emblazon, either wounded or suffering from disease was taken to the 33rd CCS where he died February 23rd 1919 and interred at Denain Communal Cemetery, Nord, France, grave C. 21. He was 24 years old and single.
His mother Mary Jane received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 11 Langton Street, Gateshead, County Durham. She also paid the sum of 11 shillings 2 pence for an additional inscription to be added to his headstone, it reads, “The Lord Giveth-The Lord Taketh Away-Thy Will be Done”.
Mary Jane Hannah Embleton nee Jobson died in the district of Gateshead, aged 93 years, in 1958.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Christopher Embleton is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004
