No. 38486, Corporal, Donald EMSON
Aged 22
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Donald Emson was born in Helions Bumpstead in 1896 (Risbridge Q401896 4A:754) son of John and Maria Louisa EMSON (née ELDRIDGE).
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Wiggon's Green, Helions Bumpstead with his widowed mother Maria L EMSON [42] school mistress, born Ellesborough, Bucks; brothers Edmund [8] and John [6] both born in Helions Bumpstead. His father had died in 1900. 1911 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at School House, Cavenham with his mother (head teacher). The fate of his brother John is unknown, Edmund died in 1961. |
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Charles enlisted in Harringey. The battalion was involved on the 18-19 September 1918 in the attacks on Pip Ridge and the Grand-Couronne (2nd Battle of Doiran). Early in 1918 the Allied troops in Salonika were preparing for a major offensive intended to end the war in the Balkans. The Greek Army had been reorganised and joined the Allied forces. The offensive began in July 1918 but the British did not play a significant part until early September. Then the British attacked a series of fortified hills. The final assault began along the whole front on 15 September 1918; the British being engaged in the Lake Doiran area. This battle was really on the 18 and 19 September 1918 and was a disaster for the British Divisions. They had to frontally assault 'Pip Ridge' which was a 2000 foot high heavily defended mountain ridge with fortresses built on some of the higher mountains, notably Grand Couronne. They sustained very heavy casualties. CWGC have 54 killed of the 9th King's Own, 26 named on the Doiran memorial, 23 buried in the cemetery there, 4 buried in Karasouli and one in Sarigol
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
