James Samuel Emerson

James Samuel Emerson VC was born on 3 August 1895 at Collon, County Louth, Ireland, the youngest son of John and Ellen Emerson. Educated locally and later in Dublin, he was working as a clerk when the First World War broke out. He enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles in September 1914 and went to France with the British Expeditionary Force in April 1915, serving as a machine gunner. He was wounded at Hooge later that year and, after recovering, returned to service, including duty in Dublin during the Easter Rising before going back to the Western Front.

In 1917 Emerson was selected for officer training and was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant. He was posted to the 9th Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and by December 1917 was serving near La Vacquerie, north of the Hindenburg Line, during the desperate fighting that followed the Battle of Cambrai.

On 6 December 1917, during a German counterattack, Emerson led his company in a local counterattack and cleared approximately 400 yards of trench. Although wounded in the head by a bomb blast which tore through the top of his steel helmet, he refused to leave his men. When the enemy attacked again in superior numbers, Emerson and only eight men met them in the open, killing many and taking six prisoners.

For the next three hours, with the other officers casualties, Emerson remained with his company, refusing medical attention and repeatedly repelling bombing attacks. Later, as the enemy attacked once more, he again led his men forward and was mortally wounded. His courage, leadership and refusal to yield inspired his men to hold their position until reinforcements arrived.

For these repeated acts of conspicuous bravery, James Samuel Emerson was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing in France. His Victoria Cross was presented to his mother on 3 April 1918 at Whitworth Hall in Drogheda. His campaign medals were the 1914–15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.