Ploegsteert Memorial
Ploegsteert Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Emery born at Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland in 1888, one of 14 children of whom only 7 survived, was the youngest of 2 sons and 5 daughters. His father Joseph Emery of Dudley, Worcestershire, born 1839, married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne n 1862 to Jane Hanks born 1844 at Gateshead, County Durham. Employed as an iron turner, (possibly at Cross Gate Foundry) he, his wife and daughters Mary Ann (7), Sarah (4) and Margaret (1), in 1871 were living at 44, Seaham Street, Westgate and had moved to number 33 by 1881with their additional children Mary (3), Joseph Jnr (1) and new born Alice who died aged approximately 21 months old. When Robert was born they were living at Ramshaw Street, Elswick, their elder children had left home, the younger ones Mary (13) Joseph Jnr (11) Lilly (8) and a second daughter named Alice (5) were all scholars. Ten years later Joseph Jnr had joined his father working at the iron foundry and later worked as a blacksmith’s striker, his sister Lilly was employed at a pickle factory, Robert was a scholar but had also joined his brother at the engineering works as a labourer by the age of 23. Aged 73 years in 1911 Joseph Snr was a pensioner, the family were now living at 4, Newcombe Street, Elswick.
During WW1 Robert Emery, who had enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, was assigned as Private 43617 to the 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The battalion, part of Kitchener’s New Army was raised at Newcastle in September 1914 and training completed had departed to France in July 1915 as part of the 52nd Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division. Private Emery did not depart until 1916 joining his regiment at The Bluff in Spring 1916 before it moved south to the Somme where it saw action at the Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th and Delville Wood July 15th-September 3rd. In 1917 they fought in the Arras sector during the offensive April 9th-May 16th and in August transferred to the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division, in action at Broenbeek in the October during the 3rd Battle of Ypres in Belgium, which raged from July 30th-November 10th 1917. When the German’s attacked again on the Somme, March 21st 1918 they returned to France suffering heavy losses during the Battles of the Lys, reorganised May 26th 1918 the battalion transferred to the 183rd Brigade, 61st (2nd South Midlands) Division for the Final Advance in Picardy, culminating with the Armistice, November 11th 1918.
Private 43617 Robert Emery was reported as missing and after investigations as to his whereabouts, struck off, declared as presumed to have died in action, April 16th 1918. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 11,403 names inscribed on the Ploegsteert Memorial which stands within Berks Cemetery Extension, just south of Ypres, Belgium, commemorating those who died in the sector whilst serving with the United Kingdom and South Africa forces, who have no known grave.
Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal he was 30 years of age and single.
In 1919 the Emery family was still living at 4, Newcombe Street, Newcastle. Details of the demise of Joseph and Jane Emery nee Hanks unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert Emery has not been found on a war memorial in Elswick or in the Elswick area.
